HB 210 - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0080
07/05
HOUSE BILL 210
AN ACT establishing a commission to study the state flag and its history.
SPONSORS: Rep. Cormen, Graf. 15; Rep. H. Howard, Straf. 4; Rep. Manos, Rock. 12; Rep. Prudhomme-O'Brien, Rock. 13; Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission to study the state flag, its history, and vexillological principles to determine if the state flag should be redesigned.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0080
07/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT establishing a commission to study the state flag and its history.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Findings. The general court finds that:
I. The state flag of New Hampshire, consisting of the state seal on a dark blue background, is similar to the flags of over 20 other states which consist of an emblem on a dark blue background.
II. As such, the state flag of New Hampshire fails to convey the sense that New Hampshire is unique among the 50 states.
III. The state flag, with intricate detail and small writing, goes against the vexillological principles of good flag design.
2 New Section; Commission to Study the State Flag of New Hampshire. Amend RSA 3 by inserting after section 2 the following new section:
3:2-a Commission to Study the State Flag of New Hampshire. There is established a commission to study the state flag of New Hampshire.
I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. At least one member of each party shall be chosen.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The president of the New Hampshire Historical Society, or their designee.
(d) The head of the New England Vexillological Association, or their designee.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
III. The commission shall:
(a) Review the history of the state flag of New Hampshire.
(b) Examine vexillological principles of flag design, particularly as they pertain to state flags of the United States.
(c) Recommend whether the state flag of New Hampshire should be redesigned, and if so, a process to create a proposed design. The commission shall have the ability to propose one or more of its own designs, but is not required to do so. The commission also may recommend an implementation schedule for any proposed flag design.
IV. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
V. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, the state library, and the New Hampshire Historical Society on or before November 1, 2025.
3 Repeal. RSA 3:2-a, relative to the commission to study the state flag of New Hampshire, is repealed.
I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2025.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 12, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| March 5, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
Feb. 20, 2025: Executive Session: 03/05/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
Jan. 16, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/12/2025 10:30 am LOB 306-308
Jan. 7, 2025: Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 2 P. 10