MN Legislators Look To Tie LGA With Flying New State Flag

Some Minnesota legislators are looking to reward those communities and counties in Minnesota that are flying the new state flag, while possibly punishing those that aren't. A potential bill got its first reading yesterday inside the Minnesota House that would tie local government aid to flying the 'right' Minnesota state flag.

Why Flying The New State Flag Would 'Pay'

A group of 8 Minnesota House members introduced a House file, HF 5077, that would reduce "local government aid to a county or city that uses the incorrect state flag established."

The proposal would see those counties and cities flying any flag other than the new state flag get a 10% reduction in government aid, according to the current proposed legislation inside the Minnesota House.

"Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the commissioner of revenue must reduce the aid to a county or city under sections 477A.011 to 477A.03 by ten percent if the county or city flies or otherwise makes use of a state flag other than the design of the state flag as certified in the report of the State Emblems Redesign Commission, as established by Laws 2023, chapter 62, article 2, section 118. The commissioner of revenue must reduce aid under this section for aid payable in the year following any year in which an instance occurred where the county or city used the incorrect state flag."

Another Minnesota City Council Votes To Fly Former Flag

The city council of Inver Grove Heights recently voted to use the former state flag, last updated in 1983. Inver Grove Heights joins a growing list of Minnesota cities that are not flying/using the updated state flag, introduced in 2024.

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Last month, St. Augusta's council voted to use the former flag inside the council chambers, rather than the new state flag.

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