Moravian cookies rise to power: NC lawmakers eye official state cookie and star

In a light-hearted legislative move, the House Committee on State and Local Government on Tuesday advanced two bills that would create an official state cookie and star for North Carolina.

House Bill 124 would elevate the Moravian cookie to the status of the official state cookie, and House Bill 125 would designate the Moravian star as North Carolina’s official state star.

“Sometimes this is a very stressful job. Every once in a while, we need a good laugh,” said bill sponsor Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth. “We need something light-hearted. And that’s part of the reason I did these two bills, this is kind of a feel-good bill.”

The backstory? Lambeth said a fourth-grade classroom visit inspired the push for these two bills. When presented with North Carolina’s 62 official state symbols, one sharp-eyed student pointed out that there is no state star. And thus, the idea for the Moravian star bill was born.

“We’ll do a cookie bill and we’ll do a star bill, and we’ll see if we can get it through, and we might have a good laugh, and a good cookie,” added Lambeth. “Might even pass out some Moravian stars we can get this past Senate. We all know how difficult the Senate is, so I’m not of any preconceived notions that they will even take these bills up. I do view them as feel good.”

Lambeth explained that the Moravian cookie is a delicious treat, widely available in Winston-Salem and across the state, with its signature razor-thin texture making it hard to stop at just one. Especially popular around Christmas, the cookie has become a seasonal favorite, much like the Moravian star, which adorns porches not just in North Carolina, but across the nation.

“If the Senate takes these bills up, we will have cookies to celebrate,” a legislator remarked upon the committee’s passage of the two bills. 

As for passing the House and Senate floor this session, time will tell if the stars align and how the cookie crumbles.

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