ST. GEORGE — A bill to approve a new Utah state flag design has made it out of committee in the Utah House, with some changes.
The House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee on Tuesday approved by a 7-2 vote a substitute version of SB 31, known as the state flag amendments bill. The measure next moves to the floor of the Utah House for a full vote.
As previously reported, the original version of SB 31 passed in the Utah Senate on Jan. 30 by a vote of 18-10, with one member either not present or not voting.
The newly amended bill is essentially a compromise that allows Utah’s current state flag, which has been in use since 1911, to continue to be flown even if the proposed new flag is adopted.
Bill sponsor Sen. Dan McCay (R-Riverton) explained a shift in terminology, telling Fox13 News on camera Tuesday, “We’re changing from a ceremonial flag, which sounds like it’s the government’s flag, to a historic state flag which is capturing its true purpose in our heart and make sure we respect that history.”
Rep. Colin Jack (R-St. George) was one of the two nay votes cast during Tuesday’s committee meeting.
“I voted against the new flag because every constituent who reached out to me, except one, wants to keep the existing flag,” Jack told St. George News on Wednesday.
Similarly, Sen. Evan Vickers (R-Cedar City), who was among the 10 senators who voted against the bill on Jan. 30, told St. George News at the time that he had voted no based on the input he’d received from his constituents. Vickers explained that of the nearly 1,000 people that answered his poll, approximately 60% were against changing the state flag, 19% were in favor and 21% said they didn’t care.
However, Vickers did add that if the measure passes both the Senate and the House and is signed into law by the governor, “I will get behind it.”
According to the language of the revised bill, the historic state flag would continue to be flown on occasions such as on state property during legal holidays, as deemed appropriate by the governor, and at the state Capitol during the annual general session of the Legislature.
Additionally, the bill notes that “all citizens maintain the right to use the historic state flag upon any occasion deemed fitting and appropriate.”
That means that Utahns who like the current flag better may continue to display it, while those who favor the new one would be able to start using that design instead. According to the bill, the new flag, if approved, won’t become official next year, as it has an effective date of March 9, 2024.
Check out all of St. George News’ coverage of the 2023 Utah Legislature here.
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