Minnesota State Representative Marj Fogelman reported on Apr. 30 that a new bill introduced by House Democrats would reduce state funding to local governments that choose to fly the previous Minnesota state flag instead of the newly adopted one.
The proposal is significant because it could affect how cities and counties receive financial support from the state, based on their decision regarding which version of the Minnesota flag they display.
Fogelman said the bill would decrease a city or county’s local government aid by ten percent if it flies any flag other than the new official design. She said, “People in this state value history, and cities shouldn’t be punished for supporting that.” According to Fogelman, current law does not require local governments to fly the official Minnesota state flag.
In 2023, a commission was established by Democrats to redesign both Minnesota’s state flag and seal. The commission’s final selections became official without formal approval from voters or additional legislative action, as outlined in the law creating the commission. This process led some communities across Minnesota to continue flying the older 1983 version of the flag on city property due to concerns about public input.
Fogelman commented on these developments: “It is interesting that people who want you to believe the nation is ruled by a dictator think state government should punish those who refuse to comply with their partisan decisions. We are a nation of freedoms, and cities and counties should have the freedom to fly the state flag that the majority of their residents support.”
