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Committee introduces measure to limit flags in government offices, excludes schools
Summary
A House committee introduced RS 31,956, a proposal from Rep. Heather Scott to restrict which flags may be displayed in state and local government offices; the committee voted to introduce the resolution with edits excluding schools and changing the effective date to upon passage and approval.
Representative Heather Scott, R-2, introduced RS 31,956 to a legislative committee, saying the measure “would allow governments to only display certain types of flags” and to set “policy on what we want to see and what we don't want to see in our Government offices.” The committee voted to introduce the measure with edits and carried the motion by voice vote.
The resolution, as presented, would limit displays on government property to the U.S. flag, official flags of government entities, official flags of any U.S. state, official military branch and unit flags, and the POW/MIA flag “as defined in Code 6000723.03.” Scott told the committee she intended the draft to exclude “schools, college, or university” so that flag policy for educational institutions could be handled separately.
Committee members questioned the proposal and the changes. Representative Crane asked, “What is the difference in this and the other flag bill we just passed out of this committee?” Representative Scott and others said multiple flag bills are being considered this session and that this draft purposely avoids addressing schools. Representative Boyle pressed wording on the effective date and said, “usually if you wanted immediate you say upon passage and approval.” Committee members adopted that change: the draft was edited to remove a July date and to read that the rule would take effect “upon passage and approval.”
Representative Boyle moved to introduce RS 31,956 with the edits excluding schools and changing the effective date; the motion was carried by voice vote. No roll-call vote or numeric tally was recorded in the transcript.
The committee also discussed the scope of which flags could be flown; Scott said a government office might fly a visiting state's flag when officials visit, as reason for allowing other state flags. Representative Achilles stated he was “in agreement with the intent of this RS.”
The motion to introduce, including the two edits (exclude schools/colleges/universities and change effective date to upon passage and approval), passed by voice vote and the committee moved on to its rules docket.
RS 31,956 was introduced to the committee with the edits described above; further drafting and formal bill file number assignment will occur through the legislature’s bill-drafting process.
