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Bill > HF694

IA HF694

IA HF694
A bill for an act relating to the display of flags on and in public buildings, grounds, and vehicles, and providing penalties.

summary

Introduced
02/28/2025
In Committee
02/28/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

91st General Assembly

Bill Summary

This bill states legislative intent that flags displayed on and in public buildings, grounds, or vehicles reflect civic values and national and state unity. The bill provides that a public entity is authorized to raise or display only the flags specified in the bill on and in a public building and on the associated grounds. The bill also prohibits a vehicle owned by a state or local governmental entity from displaying any other flag. The bill provides certain exceptions for public museums, schools, and universities. The bill provides that a public entity that violates the bill’s provisions is subject to a civil penalty of $10,000 for each day that the public entity is in violation. Civil penalties collected by the attorney general under the bill must be deposited in the veterans trust fund. The bill allows the state to withhold discretionary moneys, grants, or other financial resources from a public school, university, or local government that repeatedly violates the bill’s provisions or fails to comply with the bill’s provisions after notice. The bill provides that a public official’s, administrator’s, or custodian’s willful and repeated violation of the bill’s provisions may be grounds for disciplinary action, as determined by the person’s overseeing authority.

AI Summary

This bill, known as the "Public FLAGS Act," establishes strict guidelines for flag display on and in public buildings, grounds, and vehicles in Iowa. The legislation aims to promote national and state unity by limiting flag displays to specific types, including the U.S. flag, Iowa state flag, military flags, POW/MIA flag, local government flags, the Gadsden flag, and the Washington cruisers flag. Public entities are prohibited from displaying other flags, with limited exceptions for educational purposes in museums, schools, and universities. These exceptions allow for temporary historical, cultural, or educational flag displays, such as flags related to specific exhibits or to recognize the cultural heritage of student populations, with the condition that the U.S. flag remains prominent. The bill imposes significant penalties for non-compliance, including a potential $10,000 daily civil penalty collected by the attorney general and deposited into the veterans trust fund. Furthermore, repeated violations can result in the state withholding financial resources from the offending public entity, and public officials who willfully violate the provisions may face disciplinary action including suspension or termination. The overall intent is to standardize and regulate flag displays in public spaces to reflect a unified civic message.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance

Sponsors (7)

Last Action

Introduced, referred to Ways and Means. H.J. 480. (on 02/28/2025)

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