1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/27/2023 04:06pm
A bill for an act
relating to state government; creating a commission to redesign the official state
flag and the official state seal; requiring a report; amending Minnesota Statutes
2022, sections 1.135, subdivisions 2, 4, 6, by adding a subdivision; 1.141,
subdivision 1; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 1.135, subdivisions 3,
5; 1.141, subdivisions 3, 4, 6.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 1.135, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
The seal described in subdivision deleted text begin 3deleted text end new text begin 3anew text end is the "Great Seal of the
State of Minnesota." When the seal, the impression of the seal, the scene within the seal,
or its likeness is reproduced at state expense, it must conform to subdivision 3 and section
4.04. A seal, impression, scene, or likeness which does not conform to these provisions is
not official.
new text begin
This section is effective May 11, 2024.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 1.135, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:
new text begin
The Great Seal of the State of
Minnesota is the design as certified in the report of the State Emblems Redesign Commission,
as established by this act.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective May 11, 2024.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 1.135, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Every effort shall be made to reproduce the seal with
justification to the 12 o'clock position deleted text begin and with attention to the authenticity of the illustrations
used to create the scene within the seal. The description of the scene in this section does
not preclude the graphic inclusion of the effects of movement, sunlight, or falling water
when the seal is reproduced. Nor doesdeleted text end new text begin .new text end This section new text begin does not new text end prohibit the enlargement,
proportioned reduction, or embossment of the seal for its use in unofficial acts.
new text begin
This section is effective May 11, 2024.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 1.135, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
State agencies and departments using the seal, its impression,
deleted text begin the scene within the sealdeleted text end or its likeness shall make every effort to bring any seal, impression,
deleted text begin scene,deleted text end or likeness currently fixed to a permanent object into accordance with this section
and section 4.04. Expendable material to which the seal new text begin in effect prior to May 11, 2024, new text end or
any impression, scene, or likenessnew text begin of that sealnew text end is currently affixed may be used until the
supply is exhaustednew text begin or until January 1, 2025, whichever occurs firstnew text end . All unused dies and
engravings of the Great Seal shall be given to the Minnesota Historical Society, along with
all historical information available about the seal, to be retained in the society's permanent
collection.
new text begin
This section is effective May 11, 2024.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 1.141, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
The design of the state flag deleted text begin proposed by the Legislative Interim
Commission acting under Laws 1955, chapter 632,deleted text end new text begin as certified in the report of the State
Emblems Redesign Commission, as established by this act, new text end is adopted as the official state
flag.
new text begin
This section is effective May 11, 2024.
new text end
new text begin
The State Emblems Redesign Commission is established.
The purpose of the commission is to develop and adopt a new design for the official state
flag and the official state seal no later than January 1, 2024.
new text end
new text begin
(a) The commission consists of the following members:
new text end
new text begin
(1) three members of the public, appointed by the governor;
new text end
new text begin
(2) one member appointed by the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage;
new text end
new text begin
(3) one member appointed by the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs;
new text end
new text begin
(4) one member appointed by the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans;
new text end
new text begin
(5) one member representing the Dakota community and one member representing the
Ojibwe community, appointed by the executive board of the Indian Affairs Council;
new text end
new text begin
(6) the secretary of state or the secretary's designee;
new text end
new text begin
(7) the executive director of the Minnesota Historical Society or the director's designee;
new text end
new text begin
(8) the chair of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board or the chair's designee;
new text end
new text begin
(9) the chair of the Minnesota Arts Board or the chair's designee; and
new text end
new text begin
(10) the executive director of Explore Minnesota Tourism or the director's designee.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The following serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the commission: (1) two
members of the house of representatives, one each appointed by the speaker of the house
and the minority leader of the house; and (2) two members of the senate, one representing
the majority caucus appointed by the senate majority leader and one representing the minority
caucus appointed by the senate minority leader.
new text end
new text begin
(c) Appointments to the commission must be made no later than August 1, 2023. The
voting members of the commission shall elect a chair and vice-chair. An appointee designated
by the governor shall convene the commission's first meeting. Decisions of the commission
must be made by majority vote. The Minnesota Historical Society must provide office space
and administrative support to the commission.
new text end
new text begin
Meetings of the commission are subject to Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 13D.
new text end
new text begin
The commission
shall develop and adopt a new design for the official state seal and a new design for the
official state flag. The designs must accurately and respectfully reflect Minnesota's shared
history, resources, and diverse cultural communities. Symbols, emblems, or likenesses that
represent only a single community or person, regardless of whether real or stylized, may
not be included in a design. The commission may solicit and secure the voluntary service
and aid of vexillologists and other persons who have either technical or artistic skill in flag
construction and design, or the design of official seals, to assist in the work. The commission
must also solicit public feedback and suggestions to inform its work.
new text end
new text begin
The commission shall certify its adopted designs in a report to the
legislature and governor no later than January 1, 2024. The commission's report must
describe the symbols and other meanings incorporated in the design. The commission expires
upon submission of its report.
new text end
new text begin
Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 1.135, subdivisions 3 and 5; and 1.141, subdivisions
3, 4, and 6,
new text end
new text begin
are repealed.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective May 11, 2024.
new text end
Repealed Minnesota Statutes: H0274-1
The design of the seal is as described in this subdivision.
(a) The seal is composed of two concentric borders. The outside forms the border of the seal and the inside forms the border for the illustrations within the seal. The area between the two borders contains lettering.
(b) The seal is two inches in diameter. The outside border has a radius of one inch and resembles the serrated edge of a coin. The width of the border is 1/16 of an inch.
(c) The inside border has a radius of three-fourths of an inch and is composed of a series of closely spaced dots measuring 1/32 of an inch in diameter.
(d) Within the area between the borders "The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota" is printed in capital letters. Under that is the date "1858" with two dagger symbols separating the date and the letters. The lettering is 14-point century bold.
(e) In the area within the inside border is the portrayal of an 1858 Minnesota scene made up of various illustrations that serve to depict a settler plowing the ground near the Falls of St. Anthony while he watches an Indian on horseback riding in the distance.
(f) For the purposes of description, when the area within the inside border is divided into quadrants, the following illustrations should be clearly visible in the area described.
(1) In the upper parts of quadrants one and two, the inscription "L'Etoile du Nord" is found on the likeness of a scroll whose length is equal to twice the length of the inscription, but whose ends are twice folded underneath and serve to enhance the inscription. The lettering is 7-point century bold.
(2) In quadrant two is found a likeness of a sun whose ambient rays form a background for a male Indian in loincloth and plume riding on horseback at a gallop. The Indian is sitting erect and is holding a spear in his left hand at an upward 60-degree angle to himself and is looking toward the settler in quadrant four.
(3) In quadrant one, three pine trees form a background for a picturesque resemblance of St. Anthony Falls in 1858.
(4) In quadrants three and four, cultivated ground is found across the lower half of the seal, which provides a background for the scenes in quadrants three and four.
(5) In quadrant three, a tree stump is found with an ax embedded in the stump and a period muzzleloader resting on it. A powder flask is hanging towards the end of the barrel.
(6) In quadrant four, a white barefoot male pioneer wearing clothing and a hat of that period is plowing the earth, using an animal-drawn implement from that period. The animal is not visible. The torso of the man continues into quadrant two, and he has his legs spread apart to simulate movement. He is looking at the Indian.
The sun, visible on the western horizon, signifies summer in the northern hemisphere. The horizon's visibility signifies the flat plains covering much of Minnesota. The Indian on horseback is riding due south and represents the great Indian heritage of Minnesota. The Indian's horse and spear and the Pioneer's ax, rifle, and plow represent tools that were used for hunting and labor. The stump symbolizes the importance of the lumber industry in Minnesota's history. The Mississippi River and St. Anthony Falls are depicted to note the importance of these resources in transportation and industry. The cultivated ground and the plow symbolize the importance of agriculture in Minnesota. Beyond the falls three pine trees represent the state tree and the three great pine regions of Minnesota; the St. Croix, Mississippi, and Lake Superior.
The design of the flag shall conform substantially to the following description: The staff is surmounted by a bronze eagle with outspread wings; the flag is rectangular in shape and is on a medium blue background with a narrow gold border and a golden fringe. A circular emblem is contained in the center of the blue field. The circular emblem is on a general white background with a yellow border. The word MINNESOTA is inscribed in red lettering on the lower part of the white field. The white emblem background surrounding a center design contains 19 five pointed stars arranged symmetrically in four groups of four stars each and one group of three stars. The latter group is in the upper part of the center circular white emblem. The group of stars at the top in the white emblem consists of three stars of which the uppermost star is the largest and represents the North Star. A center design is contained on the white emblem and is made up of the scenes from the Great Seal of the State of Minnesota, surrounded by a border of intertwining Cypripedium reginae, the state flower, on a blue field of the same color as the general flag background. The flower border design contains the figures 1819, 1858, 1893.
The coloring is the same on both sides of the flag, but the lettering and the figures appear reversed on one side.
The flag described above is the official flag of the state of Minnesota.
The following procedures constitute the proper way to fold the Minnesota State Flag for presentation or display. Fold the flag four times lengthwise so that one section displays the three stars of the state crest and the text "L'Etoile du Nord." Fold each side behind the displayed section at a 90-degree angle so that the display section forms a triangle. Take the section ending with the hoist and fold it at a 90-degree angle across the bottom of the display section and then fold the hoist back over so it is aligned with the middle of the display section. Fold the other protruding section directly upwards so that its edge is flush with the display section and then fold it upwards along a 45-degree angle so that a mirror of the display section triangle is formed. Fold the mirror section in half from the point upwards, then fold the remaining portion upwards, tucking it between the display section and the remainder of the flag.