LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Democrats are tackling the big issues in the waning days of the lame duck session. Rep. Phil Skaggs (D-East Grand Rapids) introduced a bill this week that would commission the creation of a new state flag through a design contest.
House Bill 6190 would bring together artists, historians, and graphic designers from Michigan’s universities as well as appointed state officials to create the flag. If the bill is passed and signed into law, the new flag design would be officially adopted on Jan. 1, 2026.
MORE NEWS: Grand Rapids to Spend $200,00 on African American Tour of City for Your Smartphone
The proposed bill received mixed reactions on social media.
In this lame duck session I would rather the Democrats debate flags than pass dangerous and expensive legislation. There are half a dozen bills out there that could pass ranging from electricity to insurance that would cost all of us a fortune. Let them debate flags instead.
— moose&squirrel78 (@MooseNSquirrel0) November 28, 2024
Our flag is boring and an update would be awesome. The new Minnesota flag has nothing to do with Somalia. The stars in the flag are different. And the star is because the state is called the Star of the North for the love of god. It’s blue because it’s the land of 10,000 lakes.
— Not So Pleasant Peninsula (@peninsuladude1) November 29, 2024
Rep Skagg’s new flag design for Michigan. pic.twitter.com/IMke6juA1r
— EV_Trapper (@EV_Trapper) November 28, 2024
If democrat Rep. Skaggs gets his way, Michigan will have a new state flag by January 2026. If you seek a new way to waste taxpayer money, look about you. #SkaggsWantsNewStateFlags https://t.co/pI8qUrbUoa pic.twitter.com/jewKSstZW3
— Heather Dow (@PatriotPostGirl) November 28, 2024
— Theodore Smith (@RannXerox) November 28, 2024
Michigan’s state flag has a rich history. According to the Michigan Department of State, Lewis Cass designed the Great Seal. Cass served as Michigan’s second (non-acting) territorial governor. It says, “The seal was patterned after the seal of the Hudson Bay Fur Company. It was presented to the Constitutional Convention of 1835 and adopted on June 2, 1835 as the official Great Seal of Michigan.”
HB 6190 was referred to the Committee on Government Operations for review and possible approval.
Leave a Comment
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.