It’s official: Neon is now the State Element.

Gov. Steve Sisolak signed AB 182 into law in his office Tuesday afternoon, surrounded by smiling students from Carson Montessori School who helped make it happen. Assisted by Will Durham, the director of the Nevada Neon Project, the students helped write the bill language and even lobbied lawmakers.

The measure passed both houses unanimously with only one minor hiccup when it was suggested that gold should also be considered as a candidate. But the students had an answer for that: Gold is also a mineral, while neon is solely an element.

Neon joins 22 other official state emblems including:

State Colors - Silver and Blue

State Song - Home Means Nevada

State March - Silver State Fanfare

State Trees - Single-Leaf Piñon and Bristlecone Pine

State Flower - Sagebrush

State Grass - Indian Ricegrass

State Bird - Mountain Bluebird

State Insect - Vivid Dancer Damselfly

State Reptile - Desert Tortoise

State Animal - Big Horned Sheep

State Fish - Lahontan Cutthroat Trout

State Fossil - Ichthyosaur

State Artifact - Tule Duck Decoy

State Metal - Silver

State Precious Gemstone - Virgin Valley Black Fire Opal

State Semiprecious Gemstone - Nevada Turquoise

State Soil - Orovada Soil

State Rock - Sandstone

State Locomotive - Engine No. 40

State Tartan -

State Seal - The Great Seal of the State of Nevada

State Flag -

Here’s our video of Tuesday’s bill signing, starring some very happy students: