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Committee advances bill to describe state arms and flag after brief debate over recent redesign
Summary
The committee reported S.333, a measure that would amend state law describing the state arms and flag. Members debated whether removing recent changes is costly or symbolic; sponsors said replacement would occur by attrition and would not require tearing down existing seals.
The Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee reported S.333, a bill described in committee as amending state law to set the description of the arms of the state and the state flag. The bill was sponsored (as read in the transcript) by Senator Scoopis and brought questions from members about cost, symbolism and prior executive changes to the flag and seal.
Senator May asked what the bill would require to reverse recent changes to the flag and whether replacing current seals would impose a cost. Chair James Stupis replied that the change would not require tearing down existing seals and that replacements would occur through normal attrition, so there would be no direct replacement cost. May and other members noted they had observed the replacement of seals at some state buildings and questioned whether some had already been changed rather than waiting for attrition.
Committee members discussed why the flag redesign had occurred, with one remark attributing the change previously to the former governor's influence. The sponsor spoke briefly and the body proceeded to report the bill; the transcript records the committee reported the measure, with the notation that it was reported "without rec" (without recommendation) from Senator O'Mara.
The committee did not adopt further amendments on the floor. The bill moves forward to the next legislative step as a reported committee item.
