Karina Villa supports HB4438, naming the Black-and-Gold Bumblebee as Illinois' state bee

On May 31, 2026, during the 104th General Assembly, Sen. Karina Villa (D-25th) backed HB4438, a bill that designates the Black-and-Gold Bumblebee as the official state bee of Illinois, according to the Illinois Senate. The measure received unanimous Senate approval, passing with a 58-0 vote.

The bill’s formal language reads: "STATE BEE DESIGNATION."

This overview provides clarification of the bill’s provisions based on the actual text and may include interpretations to aid understanding.

Essentially, the bill updates the State Designations Act with a new Section 17, naming the Black-and-Gold Bumblebee, Bombus auricomus, as Illinois' official state bee. The legislation is intended as a symbolic designation, with no specified effective date, regulatory measures, funding, or enforcement instructions.

The Senate action recorded on HB4438 states: 'Third Reading - Passed'.

A Democrat, Villa was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2021, succeeding Jim Oberweis to represent the 25th Senate District.

Bills in Illinois move through a multi-step process starting with introduction, committee consideration, and progressing through debates and voting in both legislative chambers. Once approved by the House and Senate, bills reach the governor for either approval or veto. The General Assembly meets biennially, with only a portion of proposed bills ultimately making it through to become state law.