THE STATE IS GETTING A FEW NEW DESIGNATIONS IN 2023.

AMONG THE NEW LAWS TAKING EFFECT IN JANUARY INCLUDE NAMING DOLOSTONE AS THE OFFICIAL STATE ROCK OF ILLINOIS AND CHOOSING THE EASTERN MILKSNAKE AS THE OFFICIAL STATE SNAKE. SENATOR DALE FOWLER SPONSORED THAT BILL LAST SPRING, SAYING THE NAME CAME FROM A VERY OLD BELIEF THAT THE SNAKES COULD MILK COWS.

ADDITIONALLY, THE OFFICIAL STATE THEATRE WILL NOW BE THE “THEATRE IN THE PARK” AT LINCOLN’S NEW SALEM HISTORIC SITE AND AUGUST FIRST IS DEDICATED AS SWEET CORN APPRECIATION DAY IN ILLINOIS.

ALSO, THE THEATRE IN THE PARK AT LINCOLN’S NEW SALEM HISTORIC SITE WILL BECOME THE OFFICIAL STATE THEATRE AND FROM NOW ON, AUGUST FIRST WILL BE CELEBRATED AS SWEET CORN APPRECIATION DAY.