Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 31 Fourth Substitute (2023GS)

Sponsor

Sen. McCay, D.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/21/2023

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• establishes a new state flag of Utah;
• describes the design and meaning of the new state flag;
• designates the current state flag as the historical state flag;
• provides for the display of both flags; and
• depicts the flags in images.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

STATE FLAG AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Daniel McCay
House Sponsor: 
Mike Schultz
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses the state flag of Utah.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ establishes a new state flag of Utah;
▸ describes the design and meaning of the new state flag;
▸ designates the current state flag as the historical state flag;
▸ provides for the display of both flags; and
▸ depicts the flags in images.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
63G-1-503
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
REPEALS AND REENACTS:
63G-1-501
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 205
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
63G-1-501
 is repealed and reenacted to read:
Part 5. State Flags
63G-1-501.
State flag -- Description -- Image -- Display.
(1) The state flag of Utah shall be a rectangle that has a width to length ratio of three to
five and contain the following:
(a) two irregular, horizontal lines dividing the flag into three separate segments, of
which:
(i) the top segment:
(A) is located above the higher horizontal line; and
(B) is shaded in blue;
(ii) the middle segment:
(A) is located between the two horizontal lines;
(B) is shaded in white;
(C) at the higher horizontal line, takes the shape of a mountain with five peaks, the
center peak being the tallest and following the shape of the highest point of the hexagon
described in Subsection (1)(b); and
(D) at the lower horizontal line, follows the shape of the lowest point of the hexagon
described in Subsection (1)(b); and
(iii) the bottom segment:
(A) is located below the lower horizontal line; and
(B) is shaded in red;
(b) one hexagon that:
(i) is shaded in blue;
(ii) contains a smaller gold hexagon outline; and
(iii) is placed within the center of the middle segment described in Subsection
(1)(a)(ii);
(c) one beehive that:
(i) is shaded in gold;
(ii) contains five hive sections with a small semicircle removed from the center of the
base of the lowest section; and
(iii) is placed within the center of the hexagon described in Subsection (1)(b); and
(d) one five-pointed Utah star that:
(i) is shaded in white; and
(ii) is placed below the center of the beehive described in Subsection (1)(c).
(2) The state flag shall represent and symbolize the following:
(a) the beehive described in Subsection (1)(c) symbolizes industry, community, and the
year 1847, the year in which pioneers first settled Utah;
(b) the Utah star described in Subsection (1)(d) symbolizes hope and the year 1896, the
year in which Utah was admitted to statehood;
(c) the hexagon described in Subsection (1)(b) symbolizes the strength of Utah's
people;
(d) the top segment described in Subsection (1)(a)(i) represents Utah's skies and
symbolizes faith;
(e) the middle segment described in Subsection (1)(a)(ii) represents Utah's snowy
mountains and peace, the peaks of which symbolize Utah's indigenous peoples; and
(f) the bottom segment described in Subsection (1)(a)(iii) represents the red rocks of
Southern Utah and symbolizes perseverance and the state's unique landscapes.
(3) The state flag shall appear consistent with the following image:
(4) The state flag shall be available in the public domain and be displayed on all
occasions when the state is officially and publicly represented, with the privilege of use by all
citizens upon any occasion deemed fitting and appropriate.
(5) The lieutenant governor shall establish standards and specifications for the
manufacture and display of the state flag.
Section 2. Section 
63G-1-503
 is enacted to read:
 63G-1-503.
Historic state flag -- Description -- Image -- Display.
(1) The historic state flag shall be a flag of blue field, with the following device
worked in natural colors on the center of the blue field:
(a) in the center a shield;
(b) above the shield and thereon an American eagle with outstretched wings;
(c) the top of the shield pierced with six arrows arranged crosswise;
(d) upon the shield under the arrows the word "Industry," and below the word
"Industry" on the center of the shield, a beehive;
(e) on each side of the beehive, growing sego lilies;
(f) below the beehive and near the bottom of the shield, the word "Utah";
(g) below the word "Utah" and on the bottom of the shield, the figures "1847";
(h) behind the shield, there shall be two American flags on flagstaffs placed crosswise
with the flags so draped to project beyond each side of the shield, the heads of the flagstaffs
appearing in front of the eagle's wings and the bottom of each staff appearing over the face of
the draped flag below the shield;
(i) below the shield and flags and upon the blue field, the figures "1896"; and
(j) around the entire design, a narrow circle in gold.
(2) The historic state flag shall appear consistent with any of the following three
images:
(3) All citizens maintain the right to use the historic state flag upon any occasion
deemed fitting and appropriate.
(4) The lieutenant governor shall establish standards and specifications for the
manufacture and display of the historic state flag.
(5) The historic state flag shall be displayed:
(a) on state property during legal holidays described in Section 
63G-1-301
, as deemed
appropriate by the governor; and
(b) on the capitol hill complex, as defined in Section 
63C-9-102
, during the annual
general session of the Legislature.
(6) (a) The historic state flag may be displayed on state property for ceremonial
purposes, so long as the flag is serviceable.
(b) The historic state flag shall be replaced by the state flag of Utah, as described in
Section 
63G-1-501
, when the historic state flag is not displayed for ceremonial purposes.
(c) When displaying the historic state flag on public grounds in any location where the
state flag of Utah, as described in Section 
63G-1-501
, is also displayed, the governmental
entity responsible for the display of the flags shall ensure that the historic state flag is displayed
beneath the state flag of Utah.
Section 3. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on March 9, 2024.