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Committee introduces RS31956 to limit flags at government offices; schools excluded by amendment
Summary
Representative Heather Scott introduced RS31956 to specify which flags may be displayed by state and local government entities; the committee adopted an amendment to exclude schools, colleges and universities and to make the rule effective upon passage and approval.
Representative Heather Scott introduced RS31956 on the committee floor, saying the proposal "would allow governments to only display certain types of flags" and would set "some policy on what we want to see and what we don't want to see in our Government offices." The bill would define "government entity" to include the State of Idaho, counties, municipalities, special districts and other political subdivisions and would identify acceptable flags including the U.S. flag, official government flags, official state flags, military flags and the POW/MIA flag as defined in Code 6000723.03.
The measure drew procedural questions and a request for a targeted change. Representative Crane asked how RS31956 differed from other flag bills pending in the Legislature. Scott said she intended this draft to exclude schools, colleges and universities so that decisions about flags in educational institutions would be left to those who oversee them.
Representative Vito Barbieri moved to introduce RS31956 with two edits: add language after the word "state" to read "other than a school, college, or university," and replace the statutory effective date language with "upon passage and approval." The committee adopted Barbieri's motion and the measure was introduced with those edits by voice vote.
Other lawmakers also asked technical questions. Representative Boyle asked whether the change to the effective date should read "upon passage and approval"; committee members agreed on that phrasing. Representative Achilles said he was "in agreement with the intent of this RS." No roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript; the motion to introduce carried by voice vote.
The draft text as introduced lists acceptable flags and refers to a code citation for the POW/MIA flag; it does not address flag policies for public or private schools because of the committee's amendment. The committee moved to other agenda items after introducing the measure.
