Nineteen legislators from throughout Wisconsin recently introduced legislation to designate the monarch butterfly as the official state butterfly. Led by Representative Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc) and Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton), the primary co-authors, the bills follow state law that allows various state symbols to be added to the Wisconsin Blue Book as official state symbols. Identical versions of the legislation have been introduced as 2025 Assembly Bill 322 and 2025 Senate Bill 334.
On Monday July 14th, Rep. Tittl will lead a news conference to announce and discuss the legislation at Butterfly Gardens just north of Appleton at N2550 Hwy. 47 in Outagamie County.
Also presenting at the press conference will be Jack Voight, owner of Butterfly Gardens and former treasurer of the State of Wisconsin and former treasurer of Outagamie County. Mr. Voight has run the Butterfly Nature Center, the largest in the state of Wisconsin, for 13 years.
In announcing the bill’s introduction, Rep. Tittl said. “Monarchs are wonderful pollinators, and their conservation directly benefits a variety of other plants, animals and pollinators.” He added that “Because children love Monarchs, their presence also helps kids to enjoy the outdoors.”
“Scenic Wisconsin is a strong supporter of making the monarch butterfly the state butterfly,” stated Gary Goyke, President of the Scenic Wisconsin Board. “Our organization has worked closely with Jack Voight, Rep. Tittle and Sen. Cabral Guevara in support of his efforts to preserve and strengthen the monarch butterfly population in Wisconsin,” Goyke added.
“Scenic Wisconsin is very committed to helping promote and make this bill a reality,” Goyke continued. “The bill will encourage the preservation of the monarch butterfly and its role as a unique pollinator in the Wisconsin agricultural ecosystem.”
Additional information and copies of Senate Bill 334 and Assembly Bill 322 are available on the Wisconsin Legislature’s website at these links: Senate Bill 334, https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb334 Assembly Bill 322, https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab322
