Local Government Minnesota state flag funding cut Mike Freiberg Lisa Demuth 2024 flag change culture war state politics flag controversy

Eight Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota have introduced a bill that would penalize cities and counties for continuing to fly the old state flag instead of adopting the new design approved in 2024.

The legislation, proposed by state Rep. Mike Freiberg (D–Golden Valley), would reduce state funding by 10 percent for any jurisdiction that refuses to replace the old flag. Freiberg has criticized the old design, which features a farmer and an Indigenous person on horseback, calling it "not only kind of boring but also kind of racist."

Several cities, including Inver Grove Heights, Elk River, and Champlin, have already voted to keep the old flag flying. Freiberg argues that the delay in adopting the new flag is part of a broader "culture war" and has framed the issue as a matter of progress and inclusivity.

However, House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R–Cold Spring) has strongly opposed the bill, calling it "ridiculous" and declaring it "dead on arrival." Demuth argues that the proposal unfairly punishes local services such as police and fire departments while ignoring more pressing issues facing Minnesotans. She has also suggested that the bill could create unnecessary divisions rather than addressing real challenges in the state.

The new Minnesota state flag, adopted in 2024, was designed to better reflect the state's diversity and history. The old flag, which had been in use since 1957, was officially retired following a years-long debate over its symbolism and representation.

Source: Reason
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