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HF 4971

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/02/2024 01:19pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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A bill for an act
relating to state government; requiring the secretary of state to place advisory
questions on the 2024 state general election ballot related to the state flag and state
seal designs adopted by the State Emblems Redesign Commission; repealing laws
establishing new state flag and state seal designs; repealing Laws 2023, chapter
62, article 2, sections 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 133, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin ADVISORY REFERENDUM ON APPROVAL OF STATE FLAG AND
STATE SEAL.
new text end

new text begin (a) The secretary of state must place separate advisory questions on the ballot at the
2024 state general election related to the state flag and state seal designs approved by the
State Emblems Redesign Commission. Except as provided in this section, the questions
must be placed on the ballot and the results of the election canvassed in the same manner
as provided by law for a proposed state constitutional amendment. The questions submitted
must be:
new text end

new text begin (1) "Should the state flag design approved by the State Emblems Redesign Commission
be adopted as the official flag of the state of Minnesota?
new text end

new text begin Yes .
new text end
new text begin No .
new text end
new text begin "; and
new text end

new text begin (2) "Should the state seal design approved by the State Emblems Redesign Commission
be adopted as the official Great Seal of the State of Minnesota?
new text end

new text begin Yes .
new text end
new text begin No .
new text end
new text begin "
new text end

new text begin (b) The secretary of state must provide each county auditor or municipal clerk with
sufficient copies of a reproduction of the designs for the state flag and state seal, printed in
color, so that examples can be made available for public inspection in each polling place.
The county auditor or municipal clerk must ensure that these reproductions are placed in a
conspicuous location in the polling place so that voters may view them prior to casting a
ballot.
new text end

new text begin (c) No later than January 15, 2025, the secretary of state must submit a report to the
legislature detailing the results of the advisory referendum.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Laws 2023, chapter 62, article 2, sections 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; and 133, subdivision 1, new text end new text begin are
repealed.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactively from January 1, 2024.
new text end

APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Session Laws: 24-06843

Laws 2023, chapter 62, article 2, section 1

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 1.135, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Official seal.

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 EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective May 11, 2024. new text end

Laws 2023, chapter 62, article 2, section 133, subdivision 1

Sec. 133. new text begin REPEALER.new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin State emblems redesign. 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, effective May 11, 2024. new text end

Laws 2023, chapter 62, article 2, section 2

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 1.135, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:


new text begin Subd. 3a. new text end

new text begin Official seal; May 11, 2024, and thereafter. new text end

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 EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective May 11, 2024. new text end

Laws 2023, chapter 62, article 2, section 3

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 1.135, subdivision 4, is amended to read:


Subd. 4.

Additional effects; size.

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 EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective May 11, 2024. new text end

Laws 2023, chapter 62, article 2, section 4

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 1.135, subdivision 6, is amended to read:


Subd. 6.

State's duties.

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 EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective May 11, 2024. new text end

Laws 2023, chapter 62, article 2, section 5

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 1.141, subdivision 1, is amended to read:


Subdivision 1.

Adoption.

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 EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective May 11, 2024. new text end