Utah State Senator Kirk Cullimore introduced legislation this week to designate Android as the state's official mobile operating system. The Republican majority leader's SB138 bill would add Google's platform to Utah's existing list of 37 state symbols, which includes the Rocky Mountain elk, porcini mushroom, and Colt M1911 firearm.
Cullimore told KSL News his proposal addresses "discrimination" from iPhone users who complain about green text message bubbles. "Someday, everybody with an iPhone will realize that the technology is better on Android," the senator said. He acknowledged being the lone Android user in his household, with his wife and children all using iPhones.
The bill would amend existing state law that outlines official symbols including the state bird, fruit, song, and dinosaur. If passed and signed by the governor, Android would become Utah's designated mobile platform effective May 6.
Reaction from fellow legislators has been mixed. Some senators reportedly cheered the announcement while others booed, with Republican Mike McKell questioning whether the proposal constituted "a real bill." Cullimore himself admitted the legislation faces steep odds in committee review.
This marks the first attempt by any U.S. state to designate an official smartphone platform. The move comes exactly 100 years after Kentucky established the precedent for state symbols by naming the northern cardinal as its official bird in 1926.
Cullimore has a history of introducing unconventional legislation, including a previous bill to formalize Halloween's celebration date. He also supported Utah's recent ban on water fluoridation. The current legislative session includes 179 Senate bills covering budget, tax, health, and human trafficking issues.
The Android designation bill ranks 138th among those proposals. Utah lawmakers will debate it alongside 320 House bills and 46 resolutions during the 2026 session.
Despite his advocacy, Cullimore told reporters he doesn't "expect this to really get out of committee." The admission frames the proposal as more symbolic gesture than substantive policy, though it highlights ongoing platform debates in state legislatures.
Android and iOS have maintained roughly equal U.S. market share for years, with the green-blue bubble distinction becoming a cultural flashpoint. Utah's proposal arrives as Apple and Google continue implementing cross-platform messaging improvements announced in late 2025, while new Android devices continue to push technological boundaries.
State symbols typically require legislative approval and gubernatorial signature. Utah's existing symbols include the Dutch oven as official cooking pot and square dancing as the state folk dance.
