House Bill No. 5304, also known as Public Act No. 24-121, designates the Siberian Husky as the state dog and the lollipop as the state candy, with both designations becoming effective on October 1, 2024. Additionally, the bill establishes a working group to study the possibility of redesignating the state insect, which is currently the praying mantis. The working group is tasked with evaluating the reasons for either retaining or redesignating the current state insect and considering alternative native insects, such as the spring azure butterfly and the autumn meadowhawk dragonfly.
The working group will consist of members appointed by various leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate, including students with interests in the potential new state insects. The appointments to the working group must be made within thirty days after the bill's passage, and the group is required to hold its first meeting within sixty days of its formation. The working group is to submit a report with its findings and recommendations by February 15, 2025, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly that oversees government administration. The report should include a recommendation on whether to redesignate the current state insect and, if applicable, which insect should be selected. The working group will be dissolved upon submission of the report or on February 15, 2025, whichever is later.