Friends and neighbors,

The state flag and seal of Minnesota have always been important symbols for the people of our state. However, Democrats decided last session to redesign our state emblems and established a commission of 13 unelected individuals for this task.

Unfortunately, the State Emblems Redesign Commission rushed the process and did not offer the public enough opportunities to provide feedback. The Minnesota Legislature was also not adequately involved in the process, and I believe they should have had some input in the final designs.

To address these concerns, Republican legislators recently held a press conference to introduce legislation to allow for greater input from the public and the legislature. This includes measures like a binding referendum on the 2024 ballot, which would give Minnesotans the final say. Another proposal would allow the Minnesota Legislature to vote on the designs, requiring a 2/3 majority vote for adoption.

The cost of implementing the new emblems is also a great concern locally, and at the press conference, our Wright County Commissioners spoke to this issue. They estimate that rebranding county sheriff badges, squad cars, and official documents would cost $90,000 for Wright County alone. The total cost for all local governments would be around $150,000. To help with this, we are introducing legislation to assist local governments in covering the cost of implementation.

Another issue is that the commission selected a seal design in violation of a law that prohibits the use of symbols that represent only one community. They chose a seal that includes the Dakota phrase “Mni Sóta Makoce” instead of the state’s official motto, “L’etoile du Nord.” Further, the new seal design omits the year 1858–the year Minnesota was founded. Therefore, we are introducing legislation to add the year back to the seal and take out the Dakota phrase.

I have heard from many constituents that they are concerned about the new state emblems and the lack of opportunity for public feedback. We also need to be mindful of the unfunded local expenses. That is why I believe Minnesotans should have the final say in the design, and we should not burden our communities with the cost of adopting the new designs.

Contact My Office

Please feel free to reach out to my office with any concerns or ideas you may have. I will keep your thoughts and concerns in mind as legislation comes before me. You can contact my office at sen.bruce.anderson@mnsenate.gov or 651-296-5981.

Sincerely,

Bruce Anderson