Utah
Proposed Utah flag redesign clears 1st legislative hurdle in divided room
Sen. Daniel McCay, R-Riverton, seems on as Michael De Groote shows a Utah state flag throughout a gathering of the Utah Senate Enterprise and Labor Committee to debate a invoice to alter the state flag on the Capitol in Salt Lake Metropolis on Wednesday. (Ryan Solar, Deseret Information)
Estimated learn time: 4-5 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, listened quietly as over a dozen Utahns scooted to the entrance of a crowded room inside the state Capitol advanced to precise their views of the proposed new Utah state flag.
It felt like deja vu. For greater than a half-hour, individuals talked about what they appreciated or hated about it — a debate McCay says he has heard for months since main the trouble to replace the flag. But when the passionate debate subsided, McCay’s invoice, SB31, cleared the Senate Enterprise and Labor Committee with a 6-1 vote Wednesday, transferring it to the Utah Senate for a broader vote.
“It is all the time good to return up and speak about the place we have come within the (redesign) course of,” he advised KSL.com following the vote. “Making an attempt to give you a flag for 3½ million individuals just isn’t as simple as I believe I initially first thought to start with.”
A fierce debate
Wednesday’s assembly was the primary actual check of how state legislators really feel concerning the proposed flag redesign since members of the Utah State Flag Activity Pressure, which was created by a invoice McCay championed in 2021, voted for the design throughout a gathering in November. It capped a monthslong effort to slender down the 5,703 unique designs submitted earlier within the 12 months.
The controversy contained in the room basically mirrored the wide-ranging suggestions because the job drive’s resolution, with many in assist and simply as many in opposition to amongst those that spoke up. A handful of individuals even watched from the hallway after the seats contained in the room stuffed up.
Michael De Groote was amongst these in favor of the brand new flag design, telling the committee that whereas he “loves” the present flag, it is time to transfer on.
“It has served our state very effectively for a really very long time. … The place it hasn’t served effectively is when it is up on a flagpole,” he mentioned, including that the brand new design is simpler to tell apart than the present design.
Arguably the largest voice in favor of the brand new flag got here earlier than the assembly started. Sen. Mike Lee endorsed the design in an op-ed revealed within the Deseret Information hours earlier than the assembly started.
“Utah deserves a flag as distinctive as its individuals,” he wrote. “The newly proposed flag presents a chance to inform Utah’s story to the world in a approach they will perceive and bear in mind.”
Not everybody sees it that approach, although. A bunch of residents who oppose the design shuffled out leaflets in opposition to the “new woke flag” to individuals as they wandered into the Utah Capitol Senate Constructing, urging residents to contact their representatives about it.
Those that spoke out in opposition to a redesign argued that not as many Utahns are supportive of the brand new design as lawmakers are letting on. One particular person even steered protecting the present flag and adopting the proposed redesign as a state emblem.
However historical past appeared to be the biggest purpose for individuals who oppose a brand new flag. Many mentioned that they imagine it erases a bit of Utah’s historical past, particularly because the official flag has remained virtually untouched for over a century.
“I do not see why we have to cancel Utah,” mentioned Mike Brown, who recognized himself to the committee as a sixth-generation Utahn. “In an period of cancel tradition, that is precisely what is occurring. … Let’s take into consideration our historical past just a little bit.”
McCay’s invoice would not simply name for the adoption of the duty drive’s design; it will additionally codify the present state flag as a ceremonial state flag, to be displayed “upon any event deemed becoming and applicable” by the Utah governor. It might be displayed throughout authorized holidays, commemorative durations, in addition to oath ceremonies, funerals or any occasion attended by authorities officers or dignitaries.
In the meantime, it technically will not add any extra prices to swap flags, in response to a report compiled by the Utah Legislative Fiscal Analyst Workplace finalized final week. The report notes that native governments might cope with the prices of changing present flags, which is about $20 per flag. Nevertheless, native governments change flags on a reasonably common foundation due to put on and tear.
The subsequent steps
McCay expects related debates because the legislative session continues, including there are many supporters, loads of objectors and loads of lawmakers nonetheless not sure how they may vote but amongst his colleagues. However, he mentioned he is assured he may have sufficient votes to get the invoice all the best way to Gov. Spencer Cox’s desk by the tip of the session, March 3.
There may be extra expenditures associated to the flag change. Cox known as on the Utah Legislature to approve $50,000 towards advertising a brand new state flag, in his proposed price range launched final month. McCay defined that the funds would assist promote the brand new flag, ought to it’s adopted.
That, he mentioned, might assist individuals get extra used to seeing the brand new state flag, which can go a good distance towards ending the talk.
“5 years from now, everybody will overlook me and so they’ll bear in mind the flag,” he mentioned. “Hopefully, that is an indication of an efficient image that society has accepted.”