Amends existing law to provide that a governmental entity shall only display certain flags.
Summary
House Bill 96 amends Idaho’s flag-protocol law to limit the flags that governmental entities may display on government property. The bill specifies an exclusive list of permitted flags, including the U.S. flag, official flags of Idaho governmental entities, flags of other states, military branch and unit flags, the POW/MIA flag, official Indian tribal flags, official foreign-country flags for special occasions, and official flags of Idaho colleges, universities, and public schools. It also authorizes the Division of Veterans Services to adopt rules governing the proper location and display of flags on state property.
The bill applies to state and local governmental entities as defined in the statute, excluding schools, colleges, and universities from the definition of “governmental entity” while separately allowing their official flags to be displayed. It creates a more restrictive statewide standard for flag displays on public property and takes effect immediately upon passage because of the emergency clause.
Impact
HB 96 narrows the discretion of Idaho governmental entities by prohibiting the display of any flag not specifically listed in statute. It amends section 67-2303A of the Idaho Code and affects state agencies, counties, municipalities, special districts, and other political subdivisions or governmental instrumentalities. The bill also gives the Division of Veterans Services rulemaking authority over flag placement and protocol on state property, which may affect how public buildings and grounds are managed.
Sentiment
The voting history suggests the bill had majority support in both chambers, with passage in the House and Senate by clear margins, though not unanimously. The available record shows no committee transcript discussion, so the broader debate is reflected mainly in the roll-call votes rather than recorded remarks. Overall, the sentiment appears generally favorable among supporters who favored a uniform, limited list of permissible flags on government property.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the restriction on which flags public entities may display, since the bill removes broader local discretion and limits displays to a defined statutory list. Potential concerns would center on whether the law is too restrictive, how it applies to local governments, and whether the exceptions for tribal, foreign, and educational flags are sufficiently clear. The emergency clause and immediate effective date may also have been a point of debate, but no transcript is available to identify specific arguments or sponsors of opposition.