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    AB-581
    Natural Resources & Water

    State shrub.

    Engrossed
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Establishes the bigberry manzanita as California's official state shrub.
    • Recognizes a native plant species that helps prevent soil erosion in California's chaparral ecosystem.
    • Highlights a historically significant plant used by Native Americans and the extinct California grizzly bear.

    Summary

    Assembly Member Bennett's proposal to designate the bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) as California's official state shrub recognizes a plant deeply woven into the state's ecological and cultural fabric. The designation would add this native chaparral species to California's collection of official state symbols, which includes the golden poppy as the state flower, the California redwood as the state tree, and purple needlegrass as the state grass.

    The bill's findings detail the bigberry manzanita's million-year presence in California's landscape, where its broad root system helps prevent soil erosion across diverse habitats from the San Francisco Bay to Baja California. The plant's name reflects California's multicultural heritage - "manzanita" meaning "little apple" in Spanish, while its scientific name Arctostaphylos derives from Greek words meaning "bear grape." Native American communities historically used its fruit for food, as did the now-extinct California grizzly bear, the state's official animal.

    The legislation notes that increasing fire frequency poses challenges to old-growth stands of bigberry manzanita in California's chaparral ecosystems. The authors present the official designation as part of broader awareness efforts regarding the plant's role in California's natural landscape. The bill requires a majority vote for passage and carries no direct fiscal impact or program requirements.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Governmental Organization
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Governmental Organization
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
    Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
    Read first time. To print.
    Assembly Floor
    Read first time. To print.
    Read first time. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Brian JonesR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Bob ArchuletaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Melissa HurtadoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Susan RubioD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 16 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Brian JonesR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Bob ArchuletaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Melissa HurtadoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Susan RubioD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Steve BennettD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Akilah Weber PiersonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Angelique AshbyD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Catherine BlakespearD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Steve PadillaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Suzette ValladaresR
    Senator
    Committee Member

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Steve Bennett
    Steve BennettD
    California State Assembly Member
    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (3/28/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    March 28, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    6101980PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Establishes the bigberry manzanita as California's official state shrub.
    • Recognizes a native plant species that helps prevent soil erosion in California's chaparral ecosystem.
    • Highlights a historically significant plant used by Native Americans and the extinct California grizzly bear.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Steve Bennett
    Steve BennettD
    California State Assembly Member

    Summary

    Assembly Member Bennett's proposal to designate the bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) as California's official state shrub recognizes a plant deeply woven into the state's ecological and cultural fabric. The designation would add this native chaparral species to California's collection of official state symbols, which includes the golden poppy as the state flower, the California redwood as the state tree, and purple needlegrass as the state grass.

    The bill's findings detail the bigberry manzanita's million-year presence in California's landscape, where its broad root system helps prevent soil erosion across diverse habitats from the San Francisco Bay to Baja California. The plant's name reflects California's multicultural heritage - "manzanita" meaning "little apple" in Spanish, while its scientific name Arctostaphylos derives from Greek words meaning "bear grape." Native American communities historically used its fruit for food, as did the now-extinct California grizzly bear, the state's official animal.

    The legislation notes that increasing fire frequency poses challenges to old-growth stands of bigberry manzanita in California's chaparral ecosystems. The authors present the official designation as part of broader awareness efforts regarding the plant's role in California's natural landscape. The bill requires a majority vote for passage and carries no direct fiscal impact or program requirements.

    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (3/28/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Governmental Organization
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Governmental Organization
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
    Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
    Read first time. To print.
    Assembly Floor
    Read first time. To print.
    Read first time. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    March 28, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    6101980PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Brian JonesR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Bob ArchuletaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Melissa HurtadoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Susan RubioD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 16 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Brian JonesR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Bob ArchuletaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Melissa HurtadoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Susan RubioD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Steve BennettD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Akilah Weber PiersonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Angelique AshbyD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Catherine BlakespearD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Steve PadillaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Suzette ValladaresR
    Senator
    Committee Member