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Senate advances bill to create state flag task force after lengthy presentation
Summary
Senators advanced Senate Bill 48, which would create a state flag task force to evaluate redesign options using North American Vexillological Association principles; sponsor emphasized branding and public input. The motion to read the bill a third time passed 24–5.
Senator McKay introduced Senate Bill 48 on Feb. 1, proposing a state flag task force charged with studying redesign options and recommending a modern, distinctive flag. He framed the effort as a branding exercise, citing North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) design principles and arguing that Utah’s current flag is not distinctive when flown or used in modern branding.
"A flag's purpose is to represent a place, an organization, or a person," Senator McKay said in his presentation, urging lawmakers to consider simplicity, meaningful symbolism and a limited color palette. He said the bill would establish specific appointees, deadlines and a public process and that any change would require later legislation to adopt a new flag and to designate the current design as historic.
Supporters during floor questions said the discussion could yield economic and marketing benefits. "It would be good to have a better brand for the state of Utah, something we could market worldwide," said Senator Andreeg, arguing a distinctive emblem could aid tourism and commerce. Sponsor McKay repeatedly said there was no plan to change the state seal: "There is no plan to change the seal," he told colleagues, adding the seal’s detail makes it unsuited for small-scale or flying display.
Opponents urged caution. Senator Davis said the current flag and seal are serviceable and questioned the need for a task force that could produce a committee-driven compromise. McKay acknowledged concerns about cost and history, telling the chamber the expense would be "nominal" and that any new design should acknowledge the historic flag.
After debate, Senator McKay moved that SB48 be read a third time. The Senate conducted a roll-call vote; President Adams announced the tally as 24 yay, 5 nay, 0 absent. The motion to advance the bill carried, sending the measure to third reading and keeping open the later requirement that any new flag be adopted by subsequent legislation.
