Tortillas in New Mexico, steak in Oregon... Bigfoot in California? Why US states are adopting new symbols
Legislating isn’t always about taxes, tariffs and other serious issues. Lawmakers sometimes yearn for levity and the rare chance to find common ground
Last week, it looked like nothing could stand in the way of the tortilla becoming New Mexico’s official state bread. The idea had unanimous support from lawmakers, with the round wrap long being a culinary staple in the Southwestern state.
But on Friday, the plan fell as flat as the Mexican ingredient itself.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham didn’t shoot down the proposals because she isn’t a fan of the food. Rather, it was because she believes it marked another missed opportunity to debate bills that deal with serious matters as the state faces extraordinary challenges.
“Of course, I enjoy celebrating our unique culture,” she wrote in her veto message, naming many of the official state symbols and songs that New Mexico has adopted over the years.
“The question should not be how many more symbols we can collect — but whether we are meeting the moment with the gravity it demands,” she continued, “we are living in perilous and unprecedented times. The stakes for our state have never been higher.”
New Mexico's lawmakers were hardly alone in wanting to pad their state's list of symbols this legislative season. Georgia lawmakers recently passed a bill to recognize cornbread as their state’s official bread.
The Oregon Legislature, meanwhile, is considering adopting the T-bone steak as an official symbol. And there’s a proposal in California to name Bigfoot the state’s official cryptid — a creature that has never been proven to exist.
Striking a balance?
Legislating isn’t always about taxes, tariffs and other serious issues. Lawmakers sometimes yearn for levity and the rare chance to find common ground.
With the push to adopt the tortilla, which was proposed by Las Cruces fourth-grader Adaline McIntosh, lawmakers debated the kinds of flour needed for the perfect specimen.
Their conclusion: It depends on the meal. They also got a history lesson from state Senator Benny Shendo, a member of Jemez Pueblo tribe who explained that the first bread in what is now New Mexico was made by Pueblo people who cooked blue corn paste on a hot stone.
State Senator Cindy Nava talked about growing up on her mother's homemade tortillas, saying: “This is much bigger than a simple piece of legislation," Nava told fellow lawmakers. "This is culture and this is cultural awareness that we desperately need.”
From cattle to cocktails
Official state symbols date to the late 1800s, as legislatures throughout the U.S. sought to stake cultural claims and foster pride among their residents. First came flowers and flags. Then came fossils and foods, with the practice growing into a clever marketing tool to boost conversation and commerce.
Oregon already has an official state nut, fruit and pie. But adopting the T-bone would recognize the role that cattle has played in the state’s development and its contribution to the economy, supporters say.
It's all about Nashville hot chicken in Tennessee, where a proposal calls for making the popular dish an official state food, joining hot slaw and Memphis barbecue.
Whereas some states adopted milk as their official drink, Nevada is considering a less wholesome option, Picon punch. The home of Sin City is weighing legislation that would add the cocktail that traces its roots to Basque immigrants who settled out West to its list of state symbols.
Shooting for the stars
In North Carolina, lawmakers are considering adopting the Moravian star, a multi-pointed decoration that symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem and has become synonymous with Christmas.
Minnesota might adopt a whole constellation, with legislation pending that would add Ursa Minor to that state's list.
Texas, meanwhile, is considering adding the cannon as an official gun. The Lone Star State already has an official handgun — the Colt Walker pistol. But those who introduced this year's resolution say historic weapons such as the cannon are powerful reminders of the state's struggle for freedom. That includes the first battle of the Texas Revolution, when settlers coined the phrase ”Come and Take It" during a skirmish with the Mexican military over a bronze cannon.
A nod to nature
Colorado's list of symbols now includes Agaricus julius, a mushroom once mistaken as “The Prince mushroom" that supporters say plays a vital role in high-elevation spruce and fir forests.
Iowa and Michigan are considering adding butterflies to their lists. There are dueling proposals in Michigan, with black swallowtails and monarchs duking it out.
Minnesota lawmakers are mulling adopting an official state fossil — a giant beaver that was about the size of a small bear and roamed the area during the last ice age. It's part of a campaign led by the Science Museum of Minnesota.
California lawmakers are considering adding two things to their state list: solar energy and Bigfoot. California has the country's largest solar market, according to industry groups. As for the legendary creature, Bigfoot's proponents say it's part of popular culture and inspires searches that boost tourism in rural parts of the state.