Source: US Global Legal Monitor
This is a guest post by Katherine Palazzolo, a legal reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress. She previously authored Research Guides in Focus – Consumer Protection Law: A Beginner’s Guide.
On flag day, we celebrate the day in 1777 that the Second Continental Congress adopted the flag of the United States. Just as our nation has an official flag design, so too do our states! In celebration of Flag Day, we are highlighting several states that have recently changed, or considered changing, their official state flags.
Utah
In 2021, the Utah State Legislature passed legislation, S.B. 48, establishing a State Flag Task Force and setting a process for members of the public to submit designs for a new Utah state flag. More than 7,000 Utah residents submitted 5,702 designs for the new Utah state flag. These designs were then reviewed by a Design Review Subcommittee who identified submissions with shared features, like symbols and colors. Professional designers used these designs to create 20 flags that were displayed throughout Utah. After Utahns had an opportunity to view the designs and share their opinions, the Design Review Subcommittee chose 5 flags to refer to the State Flag Task Force. The State Flag Task Force then chose a flag to recommend to the Utah Legislature. The Utah State Legislature made the new design the official state flag with S.B. 31, which was signed into law on March 21, 2023 by the Governor Cox. More information about Utah’s flag is available at flag.utah.gov.
You can learn more about Utah state government in the Law Library of Congress’ Guide to Law Online for Utah. Our Guides to Law Online are annotated collections of links to free online legal materials and pertinent resources in the Library of Congress catalog, organized by jurisdiction.
Minnesota
Similarly, in 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed legislation, HF 1830, establishing a State Emblems Redesign Commission to design a new state flag.
The commission reviewed the more than 2,600 designs submitted by the public and chose six flags as finalists. From these finalists the commission chose three designs as the basis for the new Minnesota state flag. On December 19, 2023, the commission chose the final design. This new flag design was submitted on December 29, 2023, to the Minnesota Legislature and governor as part of a final report. Three members of the commission submitted a minority report. The new flag was adopted as the official state flag of Minnesota on May 11, 2024. More information about Minnesota’s flag is available on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
You can learn more about Minnesota state government in the Law Library of Congress’ Guide to Law Online for Minnesota.
Maine
Another state that has recently considered changing its flag is Maine.
In 2023, the state legislature had passed LD 86 titled “An Act to Restore the Former State of Maine Flag,” setting out the design of the prosed flag. The law, enacted January 7, 2024, without the governor’s signature, required that the proposed flag go before Mainers in a referendum to be held the following November, when Maine voters would be asked to accept or reject the Act. On November 5, 2024, voters rejected the Act.
More information about the Maine State Flag can be found on the Maine Secretary of State website and in the Maine Revised Statutes at 1 MRS §206.
You can learn more about Maine state government in the Law Library of Congress’ Guide to Law Online for Maine.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts is currently considering a new flag design.
In 2024, its state legislature passed H. 4800 establishing the Massachusetts Seal, Flag, and Motto Advisory Commission. The Commission is tasked with proposing a new flag for the commonwealth. More than 700 new flag designs were submitted to the commission in 2025. After reviewing the submissions, the commission chose 48 flags for a second round of scoring, of which it has selected three flags. This fall, the Advisory Commission will share its selection of three flag designs with members of the public for review and comment.
You can learn more about Massachusetts state government in the Law Library of Congress’ Guide to Law Online for Massachusetts.
Learn more about flag day through our prior posts on Flag Day and the Flag Code in 2012, and State Flags on Display – Pic of the Week in 2020.
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