Idaho legislators want to limit flag display within government entities, public schools

Mia Maldonado, Idaho Capital Sun

BOISE (Idaho Capital Sun) — At least two Idaho legislators are focused on limiting the display of flags this legislation session. 

On Thursday in the Idaho House State Affairs Committee, Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, introduced legislation to limit the kinds of flags a government entity can use on its property. This includes municipalities, counties, special districts or any other political subdivisions or “governmental instrumentality,” the bill reads. 

According to the bill, a government entity in Idaho shall not display a flag on its property other than the following: 

The U.S. flag is the official flag of a governmental entity Official flags of any state in the U.S. Official flags of any military branches and units of the U.S.The POW/MIA flagOfficial flags of Native American tribes

The committee voted to move Scott’s bill forward, clearing the way for a full committee hearing at a later date.

Scott’s flag bill is the at least the third bill this legislative session focused on limiting flags in Idaho. Rep. Ted Hill, R-Eagle, introduced a similar bill last week focused on banning flags in public schools related to “a political party, race, sexual orientation, gender or a political ideology,” Idaho EdNews reported. That bill, House Bill 10, was headed to the House floor for a vote. 

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However, Hill on Thursday morning introduced a new bill in the House Education Committee replicating and replacing House Bill 10 — adding a line specifying that flags from foreign nations are allowed in classrooms unless the United States is engaged in “hostile action” with the country. The committee voted to move the bill to the House floor without a hearing, Idaho EdNews reported.