The Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee voted to approve Senate Bill 30, which proclaims the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) as the state marsupial of New Hampshire and adds a committee amendment declaring Virginia opossums found within the state’s borders shall be known as New Hampshire opossums.

Senator Donovan Fenton introduced the bill, noting that Chesterfield School students had petitioned for the designation and that a fifth-grade class traveled to testify. Two students, Vera Cusimano and Vivian Diososa, described biological facts supporting the designation: the opossum is North America’s only marsupial; it eats ticks and other pests (which can reduce Lyme disease risk); it commonly “plays dead” as a defense; and it typically has short lifespans of two to three years. Senator Fenton said the bipartisan bill aims to engage young constituents in the legislative process.

The committee adopted a simple technical amendment proposed in committee to add language that the Virginia opossum is “hereby designated as the official state marsupial of New Hampshire, and those found within our borders shall be known as New Hampshire opossums.” Senator McGill asked about nomenclature and was told scientific names (Didelphis virginiana) would remain unchanged and the amendment applies to common naming for ceremonial purposes.

Support and next steps: Kurt Ehrenberg of the Humane Society of the United States testified in support. The committee voted to advance the bill; senators thanked the students for their testimony. The measure was taken off consent for floor consideration.

What it does not do: The measure is ceremonial; it does not create regulatory obligations or change scientific classification.