Every year in the General Assembly, someone wants to mess with the list of “Official Emblems and Designations” of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

You’ll find the list in Virginia Code § 1-510. Going into the 2026 legislative session, there were a total of 40 emblems or designations on the books.

Some make sense and are what you’d expect. The official bird is the cardinal. The official flower and the official tree? The dogwood, of course. And Misty would be proud that the official pony is the Chincoteague pony.

Others are not so predictable.

The official beverage is milk. Was the bourbon industry out having a cocktail when that was adopted? And where we they when “George Washington’s rye whiskey produced at Mount Vernon” was designated the Commonwealth’s “official spirit” some years back? 

Out of all the snakes native to Virginia, the Eastern Garter Snake is the one honored with the official imprimatur.

The Virginia big-eared bat was the winner in the bat category. Why we have an official salamander in Virginia is open question. It’s the red salamander, for those keeping score.

Speaking of critters, the dogs are still winning the dogs vs. cats debate in the Commonwealth. The official dog is the American Foxhound. The official cat is … oh wait, there isn’t one.  An effort to name Virginia’s official cat got tossed in the litter box last year.

What about this year?

There were at least six different bills to amend Code § 1-510 and create new designations.

One bill would have named “Little bluestem” as the official state grass. It has been carried over to 2027.

Another measure would have added the paw-paw as the official state fruit. The paw-paw lobby tried this back in 2020 and failed. They went down again, as this bill too was carried over to 2027. Someone call the apple lobby: A state known for its orchards and for the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival could use a preemptive strike. Apples are a core Virginia tradition, after all.

There is not an official state pet at this time, and there won’t be after this session. A bill to give that designation to “shelter pets” was carried over.

Are any new emblem bills going forward?

Yes, the Senate passed, and the House is now considering, a proposal to name the peanut as “Virginia’s official snack.” Hat tip to Mr. Peanut.

Ditto for another bill that made the crossover from Senate to House, a measure to tap the brown-belted bumblebee as the “official native pollinator.” The Code already features “an official pollinator” – albeit just a regular one – in the honey bee.

And one bill meeting with some success would actually remove one of the emblems and designations.

“Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” was adopted as the official state song in 1940; it was retired in 1997 over racist lyrics in its later verses and designated “song emeritus.”

Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, says it’s time to scrap “Carry Me Back” entirely and remove it from the state emblems and designations. His proposal, Senate Bill 801, was reported out of committee this week on a 15-0 favorable vote.

-- Paul Fletcher