Utah limits flags that can legally be flown at government buildings, schools

A new state law places new restrictions on the types of flags that a federal building may legally raise in Utah after Gov. Spencer Cox allowed a bill on flag amendments to pass without a signature. The new law included a short list of approved flags, including the American flag, the state flag, and military flags. Flags denoting political parties and LGBT beliefs are not on the approved list, making Utah the first state to formally ban government buildings from flying the pride flag.

Why didn’t Cox sign the bill? The governor shared mixed feelings about the legislation in a letter to lawmakers. He supported the bill’s intention of bringing neutrality to schools, but questioned the effectiveness and necessity of the statute. Students can still be influenced by posters, signs, and other classroom materials, and it’s unlikely to fix the problem legislators want it to, according to the letter. He claimed that the bill would only exacerbate political tensions and spur alternative forms of creative political symbolism. Cox noted that a veto would be futile, assuming that legislators would just override it, so he allowed the measure to pass without a signature, despite his concerns.

Dig deeper: Read my report on Cox signing another national first into Utah law.