Warnick introduces state cactus bill in response to students' request
This cactus is the subject of discussion in Olympia this legislative session after students in Kittitas County asked State Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake) to submit a bill designating basalt cactus the state cactus. Warnick said the bill provides an opportunity for the students to learn about the legislative process.
CREATIVE COMMONS
OLYMPIA — Washington’s nickname, “the Evergreen State,” doesn’t only apply to the green of the pine trees but also applies to the green of the shrub-steppe that covers most of Eastern Washington.
Because of that, Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, has proposed a bill to recognize a state cactus.
“(In) Kittitas (County), portions of Grant and maybe Douglas County, we have cactus in the shrub-steppe area,” Warnick said.
Senate Bill 5698 would establish the basalt cactus — formally known as pediocactus nigrispinus — as the state cactus. The plant is also known as the snowball cactus, hedgehog cactus or Columbia Plateau cactus.
“(The bill) came from a request from a class of students in Kittitas County,” said Warnick.
She said the class of elementary students had learned and done research about the shrub-steppe and decided to write letters to Sen. Warnick about making a state cactus.
“You don’t think of Washington State as having cactus,” Warnick said.
Warnick said she dropped the bill a little bit late in the session but hopes it can at least get a hearing so they can see some of the legislative process in action.
“It’s for not only the district, but it's for their education about civics and how to get a bill through,” Warnick said.
SB 5698 was first read on Feb. 3 and referred to the State Government and Elections Committee. No other action has been taken.
Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.