SB-1214 • 2026

California State Library: study: state butterfly.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Ochoa Bogh
Last action: 2026-05-14
Official status: May 14 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation incorrectly states that the bill requires the library to research with public input on a new candidate for the state butterfly, which is not specified in the official source material.

California State Butterfly Study

This law makes the western monarch butterfly the state butterfly and requires the California State Library to study other potential butterflies for this honor.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the western monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as the official State Butterfly of California.
Requires the California State Library to research, in consultation with the public, on a new candidate for the state butterfly.
Asks the library to submit a report by January 1, 2028, recommending another potential state butterfly based on their study.

Who It Names or Affects

The people of California who are interested in official state symbols and wildlife conservation.
The California State Library which will conduct research and write the report.

Terms To Know

State Butterfly: An official symbol chosen by a state to represent its natural beauty or cultural values.
California State Library: A library in California that provides research and reference services for the government and public.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only requires a study by January 1, 2028, but does not specify what will happen after that date.
It is unclear if any new butterfly will actually be chosen as the state butterfly based on this report.

Bill History

2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
May 14 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2026-05-08 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 14.
2026-04-27 California Legislative Information
April 27 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-17 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 27.
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Joint Rule 10.5.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 15. Noes 0. Page 3866.) (April 14).
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 14.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
2026-03-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on G.O.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
2026-02-19 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1214, as amended, Ochoa Bogh.
State Butterfly.
California State Library: study: state butterfly.
Existing law establishes various official emblems of the state, including establishing the California dog-face butterfly (zerene eurydice) as the official State Insect.
Existing law establishes the California State Library within the state government and vests control of the library to the State Librarian. Existing law authorizes the California State Library to serve as the central reference and research library for the departments of state government and maintain adequate legislative reference and research library services for the Legislature.
This bill would establish the western monarch butterfly (danaus plexippus) as the official State Butterfly. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
This bill would require the California State Library to research, in consultation with the public, on the best candidate for the official State Butterfly. The bill would require the California State Library, on or before January 1, 2028, to submit a report to the Legislature with the California State Library’s recommendations based on the study, as provided. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2032.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF