Utah could become the first state in the nation to ban pride flags in all public schools and government buildings, as a bill that would disallow any unsanctioned flags awaits Gov. Spencer Cox’s signature or veto.
The bill, HB77, is sponsored by Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Layton, and was introduced in the wake of two failed attempts during the 2024 legislative session to ban pride flags in schools. In its original form, the bill only applied to schools, but a later version of the legislation expanded the ban to government buildings.
The flags approved for display in schools and government buildings under HB77 include the U.S. flag, Utah state flag, flags of Native American tribes, Olympic flags, military flags, flags of other countries and flags for colleges and universities. Historic versions of the U.S. and Utah flags would also be approved.
Some municipalities and school districts across the country have already banned pride flags and other “political” flags from classrooms and government buildings. A spokesperson for the research center Movement Advancement Project said that while some “Don’t Say LGBTQ” or other school censorship laws ban certain symbols in classrooms, “we are confident that the Utah law is the first to target flags so explicitly and primarily.”
A spokesperson for the ACLU of Utah agreed with this assessment.
“If HB77 becomes law, Utah will earn the shameful distinction of being the first state in America to dictate which flags can be in schools and government property,” said Aaron Welcher, the ACLU of Utah’s director of communications, in a statement Friday. “Make no mistake — this isn’t about flags; it’s about advancing an agenda aimed at erasing LGBTQ+ Utahns from public life. Today it’s pride flags. Tomorrow, it’s your freedom on the chopping block."
While Utah may be first, it’s unlikely to be last.
Idaho lawmakers recently passed a similar bill, HB41, which would ban “flags or banners that present political, religious, or ideological views, including but not limited to political parties, race, gender, sexual orientation, or political ideologies” from being displayed in public schools, though the legislation does not apply to all government buildings, as Utah’s ban would.
The Idaho bill has also passed both chambers of the state’s Legislature and awaits approval or veto by the governor.
A number of lawmakers in other states, including Arizona, Alaska and North Carolina have recently introduced bills that mirror HB77, and lawmakers in Alabama are also considering a bill that would ban pride flags in schools. Similar attempts in Oklahoma and Tennessee failed last year.
Should the ban pass in Alaska as currently constructed, it would require that Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy take down an anti-abortion flag that was flying at the governor’s mansion at the time the bill was filed.
The wave of anti-pride flag bills across the country comes along with a recent federal push to remove the flags from embassies and Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, has also repeatedly introduced a bill that would ban pride flags from all federal buildings.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Layton, at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.
At least one state, Louisiana, already has a ban on displaying unsanctioned flags on government buildings. According to an executive order issued by Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry last June, only flags “specifically adopted or recognized by Louisiana State Law,” military flags, Louisiana National Guard flags, state flags, and official state department, agency, or university flags may be flown at government buildings.
Despite the order, Landry flew a “Make America Great Again” flag at the governor’s mansion in honor of President Donald Trump’s inauguration and called on Louisianans to join him in doing so.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also sparked controversy in 2019 when members of her office flew a pride flag in front of her office, which was later removed by legislative counsel, who contended that the flag was “political advocacy and violates building policy,” though Lujan Grisham disagreed with the assessment that the display was a violation.
‘Let adults make those decisions’
Utah lawmakers’ attempt to ban any unsanctioned flags from public schools and government buildings has attracted significant attention, particularly after Lee said during a House hearing last month that the bill would allow teachers to fly Nazi and Confederate flags in some instances.
Lee denied that he ever said teachers could display Nazi flags and attacked The Salt Lake Tribune for reporting his comments about displaying a Nazi flag. The bill was later amended to clarify that only flags displayed as part of an approved curriculum would be allowed under the educational carveout. Another attempt to amend the bill and strip it of provisions that would apply to government buildings failed in the Senate.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during a press conference on the last day of the legislative session at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 7, 2025.
The bill attracted further controversy last week after a “Sundance insider” told Deadline that, should Cox sign the bill into law, the film festival may pull out of Utah over concerns about LGBTQ rights.
Neither Lee nor Cox responded to requests for comment on the Deadline report, though the governor has expressed some concern about the legislation.
In an interview on the final night of the legislative session, Cox said he wished the bill had not been expanded to apply to government buildings. “I wish we would have kept it at schools and let adults make those decisions,” he said. “That would be really cool if I could just strike out half a bill and keep the other half of a bill, but I don’t get to do that.”
Still, Cox also said that he would likely sign the bill into law, though he has yet to take any action. “I don’t know if I’m going to sign that one,” he has previously said. “I’ll probably sign that one. I need to look at it.”
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This story has been updated to include a new statement from ACLU of Utah.
