A bill inspired by students in Letcher County to designate an official state mushroom is moving forward in the state Senate.
Scott Madon sponsored Senate Bill 19 after students from Letcher County Central High School suggested the idea during a visit to the district. The legislation would name the indigo milk cap as Kentucky’s official state mushroom.
The bill received unanimous approval Thursday from the Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee.
Students traveled to Frankfort with their biology teacher, Wayne Caudill, to present research on the indigo milk cap, a bright blue mushroom native to Kentucky forests. They told lawmakers fungi play an important role in ecosystems by recycling nutrients and supporting plant life.
Lawmakers praised the students for their presentation and their involvement in the legislative process.
Madon said the proposal turned a classroom idea into a real-world civics lesson for the students.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.