Bill Making Morel the State Mushroom Passes First Committee
OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Tourism Committee this week passed House Bill 3263 to establish the morel mushroom as Oklahoma’s state mushroom. Considered a delicacy because of cultivation difficulties, several thousand Oklahomans partake in morel hunting every spring. "I'm one of the thousands of Oklahomans who hunt the tasty morel mushroom each spring," said the bill’s author, Rep. John George, R-Newalla. "I wanted to run this fun piece of legislation to support these dedicated foragers and maybe attract new interest in Oklahoma’s landscape and promote more awareness of Oklahoma’s variety of mushrooms. By implementing a state mushroom, we could even expand opportunities for communities across the state to attract tourists and teach about fungi safety.” George’s district in eastern Oklahoma County has had many reports of morel sightings. "I myself am fortunate enough to pick between 200 and 300 or more in good years at a location in my district," George said. The morel, native to Oklahoma, tends to grow in mid-March through early May. Morel mushrooms can be found all across the state, and they grow only under specific temperature and precipitation requirements. However, morels can be toxic if consumed raw or undercooked. Eight other states have also established state mushrooms. HB3263 passed out of the House Tourism Committee unanimously and is now available for review by the House Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee.