ST. PAUL – State Rep. Shane Mekeland, R-Clear Lake, 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.
Mekeland 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.
“House Democrats are literally willing to cut state funding that supports essential services if cities and counties won’t fly a certain flag,” Mekeland said. “And here I thought they were against authoritarian government. I also have First Amendment issues with this bill, even if it is government on government retaliation. Minnesotans should be able to fly the old Minnesota flag if that’s what they want to do. What’s next? Are they going to try to ban people from flying the old state flag on private property?”
While the commission ultimately selected the new design, Mekeland said it was not directly approved by voters or the legislature. Instead, 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.
“This bill won’t stop the old state flag from being flown,” Mekeland said. “In fact, I bet the opposite will happen and it will only encourage even more Minnesotans to display the old flag. I’m already seeing more of the old Minnesota flags around the area than I recall before the botched redesign.”
Apart from House Republicans opposing the bill in a tied House, Mekeland said it also faces procedural hurdles because it was introduced after this year’s legislative deadlines had passed. It also does not yet have a companion measure in the Senate.
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