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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
state planet; Pluto
Purpose
Designates Pluto as the official state planet.
Background
Statute outlines the official state emblems, including a state fossil, state bird, state flower, state tree, state neckwear, state gemstone, state animals, state butterfly, state nickname, state firearm, state metal, state mineral, state dinosaur and state drink (A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 4.1, Article 5).
Pluto was discovered in 1930 by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Pluto is located in a distant region of our solar system known as the Kuiper Belt and was long considered our ninth planet. The International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006 (NASA).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Designates Pluto as the official state planet.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
GOV 1/31/24 DP 8-1-0-0
3rd Read 2/19/24 52-0-7-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
February 28, 2024
MG/AB/cs