Utah's Official State Symbol Debate: When Lawmakers Weigh In on iPhone vs. Android

When Utah Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore introduced SB138 to make Android the state's official mobile operating system, the reaction from his colleagues wasn't the polite silence reserved for ceremonial resolutions. Instead, he got a mix of applause and boos—genuine, visceral responses to what might seem like a joke bill.

"Is this a real bill?" asked Senate Majority Assistant Whip Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, sitting nearby. Yes, it is. The bill would join the ranks of Utah's official state cooking pot (the dutch oven), crustacean (brine shrimp), and mushroom (porcini). This isn't satire; it's an actual legislative proposal now available on the Utah Legislature's website alongside hundreds of serious bills.

Cullimore's motivation reveals something deeper than mere platform preference. "Someday, everybody with an iPhone will realize that the technology is better on Android," he told reporters, while admitting he's "the only one in my family – all my kids, my wife, they all have iPhones – but I'm holding strong." He even joked about "discrimination" from iPhone users who complain that his text messages appear in green bubbles instead of blue.

This isn't Cullimore's first foray into unconventional legislation. In 2023, he sponsored a resolution encouraging Utahns to celebrate Halloween on the last Friday in October. That proposal failed after lively Senate debate, but Cullimore considers it "serious" and promises it will return. His Android bill, however, he doesn't expect to advance past committee.

The reaction from fellow lawmakers tells a different story. When asked if the Android bill parallels his Halloween proposal, Cullimore insisted "No, the Halloween bill is serious," prompting laughter from nearby senators. This exchange highlights a tension in modern governance: how do lawmakers balance genuine policy work with the cultural moments that resonate with constituents?

The debate mirrors a broader pattern in tech adoption. Android holds approximately 70% of the global mobile OS market, yet iPhone users often perceive their platform as superior—a perception reinforced by Apple's closed ecosystem and premium branding. Green vs. blue bubbles have become social markers, influencing everything from dating to professional communication.

Cullimore's bill, while unlikely to become law, serves as a legislative mirror reflecting how deeply technology preferences have embedded themselves in cultural identity. When lawmakers debate state symbols, they're not just discussing software—they're acknowledging that platform choice has become a form of personal and collective expression.

The bill's journey through Utah's legislative process will be telling. Will it be dismissed as frivolous, or will it spark substantive discussion about how states should engage with technology? Either way, it demonstrates that even in the serious halls of state government, the iPhone vs. Android debate has earned its place at the table.

The proposal comes at a time when mobile technology choices increasingly affect daily life. From school policies on phone use to workplace communication standards, the OS divide has real-world implications. Utah's own recent legislative session has seen bills limiting phone use in schools and curbing immigration enforcement efforts—showing that technology policy is already on lawmakers' minds.

Cullimore's Android bill might not change Utah's official symbols, but it has already achieved something notable: forcing a conversation about how personal technology choices become public identity. In an era where political polarization often dominates headlines, perhaps a debate about green vs. blue bubbles offers a refreshingly human perspective on how we navigate our increasingly digital world.

The bill's fate remains uncertain, but its existence alone speaks volumes about the intersection of technology, culture, and governance in modern America. Whether it advances or fails, SB138 has already succeeded in making the abstract debate of iPhone vs. Android tangible enough for legislative consideration.