Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Symbolic Displays topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee narrows House Bill 1332 to limit Lafayette flag to 'over the state house'
Summary
The Legislative Administration committee adopted amendment 1805S to change House Bill 1332’s language from permitting flags 'on state house grounds' to flags 'over the state house,' preserving historical flag displays at the Lafayette pole while leaving other campus flag rules to the facilities committee.
The Legislative Administration committee approved an amendment to House Bill 1332 in executive session that narrows where historical flags may be displayed on the State House campus.
Sponsor Senator Lang said the amendment, 1805S, changes the bill’s language from permitting flags "on state house grounds" to permitting them "over the state house," so the long-standing Lafayette flag pole may continue to host historical displays. "We have a flag pole that's out on the lawn. It's called the Lafayette pole. Um, we use it for historical purposes," Senator Lang said, noting past displays such as the Pine Tree Riot flag and the Betsy Ross flag.
The change is intended to preserve the committee’s ability to hold historical presentations at that location while leaving other flagpoles on campus under the control of the facilities committee. Senator Lang said he had consulted with "Terry Pap" and that the facilities committee’s rules would continue to govern other poles.
Senator Aliller asked whether the amendment affects the Gold Star flag; the committee clarified that the Gold Star provision remains in section one of the bill and is unchanged, and that the governor’s prerogative described in the bill for Gold Star flags remains intact.
The committee adopted amendment 1805S by voice vote and approved House Bill 1332 as amended by unanimous consent during the executive session.
