Black-and-Gold Bumblebee state bee bill clears Illinois Legislature

The legislation introduced by state Rep. Janet Yang Rohr seeks to designate the Black-and-Gold Bumblebee as Illinois' official state bee, serving as a symbolic state designation, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

In the House, 63 Democrats and 33 Republicans supported the measure.

In the Senate, the bill received votes from 40 Democrats and 18 Republicans.

Rohr first presented the bill in the Illinois House on Jan. 15, 2026, during the 104th session.

The bill, HB4438, cleared the General Assembly on May 31, 2026, in session 104.

The Illinois General Assembly website summarizes the legislation as follows: "Amends the State Designations Act. Designates the Black-and-Gold Bumblebee (Bombus auricomus) as the official State bee of the State of Illinois."

Our summary below draws from the actual bill text and includes clarification to explain its intent.

This act modifies the State Designations Act by adding Section 17, which establishes the Black-and-Gold Bumblebee, scientifically known as Bombus auricomus, as Illinois' official state bee. There is no stated effective date, nor are there additional rules, financial, or enforcement provisions, suggesting its role is primarily symbolic.

Additional sponsors included Rep. Anna Moeller (Democrat-43rd District), Rep. Dagmara Avelar (Democrat-85th District), Rep. Dan Swanson (Republican-71st District), and 22 others.

In Illinois, bills pass through a multi-step legislative process that starts with introduction in the House or Senate, proceeds through committees and floor debates, and requires approval from both chambers before proceeding to the governor. With a biennial schedule, thousands of bills are introduced per session, but only a small percentage complete the process to become law.

More information about bills and legislative measures is available here.

Rohr holds a BA from Northwestern University (2002) and earned an additional degree from University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2010.

A Democrat, Rohr joined the Illinois State House in 2021, succeeding Grant Wehrli as representative for District 41.

Some representatives present in the chamber abstained from voting, listed as "Not Voting." Others were not present and designated as "Absent" or granted "Excused Absence" due to personal or health reasons.