Minnesota House Bill HF4808

Minnesota 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/11/24
• Refer: 3/11/24

Caption

Design of state seal modified.

Impact

If enacted, HF4808 will amend Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 1.135, subdivision 3a, thereby altering the official symbolic representation of the state. The modification of the state seal may influence various state documents, public representations, and symbolic uses that rely on the seal, necessitating updates across state governance and communications. This could result in some initial costs associated with transitioning to the new seal in official usage, as new materials featuring the new design may need to be produced.

Summary

House File 4808, introduced by Representatives Olson, Urdahl, Knudsen, Harder, Davids, and others, aims to modify the design of the state seal for Minnesota. The bill specifies that the official Great Seal of the State will adopt the design certified in the report by the State Emblems Redesign Commission, but will not include the phrase 'Mni Sota Makoce'. This change is intended to reflect current state values and identity more accurately, as determined by the commission's findings.

Contention

While the bill is largely seen as a procedural update, there may be discussions surrounding the implications of omitting the phrase 'Mni Sota Makoce', which means 'the land where the waters reflect the skies' in the Dakota language. Some legislative members might argue that this omission could cause a disconnect with the state's Indigenous heritage and the significance that the original seal's elements held. This point may be raised by advocates for Indigenous rights who emphasize the importance of incorporating historical and cultural considerations into state symbols.