House bill introduced to penalize Minnesota cities not flying current state flag

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) – A state House bill introduced Monday would financially penalize Minnesota counties and cities that choose not to fly the redesigned state flag.

In recent months, nearly a dozen Minnesota cities have passed resolutions—through council votes—to revert to use of the former state flag, which was retired in 2024. Plainview and Zumbrota are among the local communities taking the formal action, with other cities considering the move.

This week’s legislation was put forth by eight House DFL members, none of whom represent southeast Minnesota. It received a hearing in the House Taxes Committee.

The proposal calls for a 10% reduction in state governmental aid to a county or city that uses a state flag with a design different than the certified design approved by the State Emblems Redesign Commission.

The bill directs the commissioner of the state Department of Revenue to reduce state aid for the year following any year in which the “incorrect state flag” is being used on government-owned land.

House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) said the DFL bill has “no path forward” in the chamber. There is currently no Senate companion bill.

The former state flag dates back to 1893.

It shows an Indigenous person riding off into the sunset while a white settler plows a filed with a rifle located nearby. Many Native Americans call the scene offensive.

In addition, flag scholars found the previous flag to be too complicated.

In late December 2023, a 13 member commission—appointed by the governor—selected the revised flag design. It was chosen from more than 2,100 submissions through a contest.

According to the Minnesota Secretary of State, the current design “represents many of the state’s best-known traits including its many lakes and rivers and the North Star.”

The 8-point star mirrors the one on the floor of the Minnesota Capitol Rotunda.

The dark blue background is a stylized shape of the outline of the state.

The remainder of the flag is a solid, bright blue—representing water and Minnesota’s designation as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”

Critics of the updated design do not agree with the selection process, with several advocating for a statewide vote.

Secretary of State Steve Simon has told KTTC, on more than one occasion, such a vote would be unconstitutional without legislative action.

State statue requires the officially-designated flag to be displayed at the Capitol. It’s also displayed at state government buildings; however, there is nothing in writing that tells local governments they must go with the official design.

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