ST. PAUL – State Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, said he opposes a House Democrat bill that reduces state funding to cities and counties that choose to fly the old state flag instead of the new version.
The bill (H.F. 5077) comes at a time when numerous local governments have chosen to fly the customary 1983 version instead of the one developed by a commission Democrats in full control of the Capitol selected in 2023 to redesign Minnesota’s flag and seal. The proposed measure would reduce local government aid by 10 percent for entities choosing to display any other flag than the one that became official in 2024.
Anderson said LGA is a key source of state funding for local governments – helping communities pay for essential services such as police and fire departments – making this a significant financial penalty for noncompliance.
“The new flag was never approved by the legislature, or by a vote of the citizens of Minnesota,” Anderson said. “And now this bill introduction by the DFL to force municipalities to display the new flag is embarrassing and illustrates the widespread disapproval of the new design.”
Instead of passing via votes in the legislature or as a public referendum, the enabling law specified that the commission’s final choice would automatically become the official state flag on May 11, 2024. Since then, the design has faced resistance from some residents and local governments, with several cities – including Champlin, Zumbrota, Elk River and Inver Grove Heights – opting to continue flying the former flag on public property. Current state law does not require local governments to display the official flag.
“It’s too bad we’ve gotten to the point where bills are being drafted that force Minnesotans to fly a flag they may not want to fly, or suffer funding cuts as a consequence,” Anderson said. “It seems heavy handed.”
Apart from House Republicans opposing the bill in a tied House, Anderson said it also faces procedural hurdles because it was introduced after this year’s legislative deadlines had passed. The bill also does not yet have a companion measure in the Senate.
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