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Panel approves flag-display measure after hours of public testimony; vote 4-1
Summary
After extended public testimony both for and against it, the Senate Education Committee voted 4–1 to advance first-substitute House Bill 77, a measure that restricts which flags government entities and K–12 classrooms may display and directs enforcement through the state auditor, sponsors said.
The Senate Education Committee advanced first-substitute House Bill 77 on a 4–1 vote after several hours of public testimony that split sharply over whether the state should limit flags displayed in classrooms and on government property.
Representative Lee presented the bill, which lists approved flags that may be displayed by schools, cities and counties and prohibits others. Lee said the bill is narrowly focused on “political neutrality” and on flags specifically; it does not regulate pins or stickers and includes an amendment to allow historical American and state flags and Olympic flags. “Some of the flags that are approved seem like the ones that we would all assume so,” Lee told the committee, and he said the bill seeks to avoid state-funded ideological messaging.
The measure drew dozens of public…
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