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HD 920

An Act relative to the official frog of the Commonwealth

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Kushmerek

Designates the Spring Peeper as Massachusetts’ official frog; a symbolic designation with no funding or programs, guiding branding, education, and official wildlife references.

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Bill Summary · HD 920

Summary of: An Act relative to the official frog of the Commonwealth (HD 920)

Overview

  • Purpose: Designate the Spring Peeper as the official frog of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  • Bill type: Proposed act in the 2025-2026 legislative session.
  • Sponsor: Representative Michael P. Kushmerek (3rd Worcester), introduced as House Docket No. 920; accompanying bill House No. 3373.
  • Committee: Referred to or associated with the State Administration and Regulatory Oversight jurisdiction in the House (no final committee action included in the provided text).
  • Status: Not explicitly stated in the provided summary text. The material indicates initial filing and legislative presentation, with no enacted date.

Note on dates: The provided bill text shows filing on January 14, 2025 (House Docket No. 920, House No. 3373). The metadata at the top lists an introduced date of November 29, 2025, which may reflect a sessional update or a separate filing. For purposes of this summary, the substantive content is the designation itself; the exact timing may depend on legislative progress.

Key Provisions

  • New designation: Section 65 of Chapter 2 of the General Laws shall declare the Spring Peeper the official frog of the Commonwealth.
  • Constitutional/Statutory change: Adds a new statutory section to Chapter 2 to establish the official frog, without creating additional agencies, programs, or funding commitments in the text provided.

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Commonwealth-wide symbolic designation: The Spring Peeper would be recognized as the official frog of Massachusetts.
  • Potential applications: The designation could influence state branding, educational materials, public displays, and official communications referencing Massachusetts wildlife or natural history.
  • Fiscal/ regulatory impact: The bill text does not specify funding, regulatory programs, or duties arising from the designation, suggesting a symbolic change rather than an operational mandate.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Introduction and referral: Filed in January 2025 (House Docket No. 920; accompanying House No. 3373) and associated with the State Administration and Regulatory Oversight committee pathway.
  • Legislative steps to enactment: As a typical statute-designation bill, it would need to pass both the Massachusetts House and Senate and be signed by the Governor to become law. The timeline would depend on committee action, floor votes, and gubernatorial action.
  • Effective date: The text does not specify an effective date; if enacted, the designation would take effect upon the statute’s operative date (as determined in the final act).

Remarks

  • This is a symbolic designation designating a native Massachusetts frog species—the Spring Peeper—as the Commonwealth’s official frog. No fiscal mandates or regulatory changes are described in the provided text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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