Which States Have Completed a Flag Redesign, and Which Are Still In Progress?
If you are shopping for a state flag in 2026, the clearest completed redesigns are Mississippi (2020), Utah (2024), and Minnesota (2024). Several other states have active commissions or pending bills but have not finalized anything, meaning the flag currently for sale is still the official one.
| State | Old Design | New Design Summary | Status | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | Confederate-emblem design | Magnolia blossom, "In God We Trust" | Complete | January 11, 2021 |
| Utah | Seal on blue | Beehive-centric; moved away from seal | Complete | March 9, 2024 |
| Minnesota | Seal on blue (1957–2024) | Dark-blue state shape, light-blue field, white North Star | Complete | May 11, 2024 |
| Illinois | Seal on white | Commission process begun 2024; no final design | In progress | TBD |
| Massachusetts | Seal on white | Legislation introduced; commission active | In progress | TBD |
| Maine | Seal on blue | Pine-tree revert proposed; voters rejected Nov. 2024 ballot | Stalled/rejected | N/A |
| Michigan | Seal on blue | Multiple bills introduced; no commission finalized | In progress | TBD |
| New York | Seal on blue | S44 introduced | In progress | TBD |
| Washington | Seal on green | HB1938 introduced | In progress | TBD |
| Pennsylvania | Seal on blue | Commission memorandum proposed, late 2025 | Early stage | TBD |
Key nuance on Maine: Maine's 2024 ballot proposal would have reverted to a pre-1909 pine-tree-and-North-Star design rather than creating something new. Voters rejected it, so Maine's current seal-on-blue flag remains official. That outcome matters for buyers: the "old" flag and the "current" flag are the same thing in Maine.
What Flag Should You Actually Buy Right Now for Each Redesigned State?
For the three completed states, the answer is clear. For the in-progress states, buy the current official flag, no replacement has been authorized yet.
- Mississippi: Buy the new magnolia-blossom design. The Confederate-emblem flag is a retired collectible, not the official flag.
- Utah: Buy the new beehive-centric design, official since March 9, 2024. The old seal-on-blue is now historic.
- Minnesota: If you want the official banner for a civic building or school, buy the new North Star flag. If you want the heritage design, the Historic Minnesota State Flag, 100% Made in USA is available as a collectible piece.
- Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Washington, Pennsylvania: Buy the current design. No replacement flag exists yet, and buying a "proposed" design from an unofficial source means flying something that was never legally adopted.
Browse all officially current designs in the State Flags collection, which is updated as new official versions become available.
Is It Legal to Fly the Old State Flag After a Redesign?
Yes, for private citizens and most local governments, flying a retired state flag is legal. No federal law or typical state statute bans it. The practical distinction is between what is required at government sites vs. what is permitted everywhere else.
| Location | Old (Retired) Flag | New (Official) Flag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private home or business | Permitted | Permitted | No restriction; owner's choice |
| State Capitol / state agencies | Not official | Required | Minnesota statute 1.141 mandates the official flag on Capitol grounds |
| Cities and counties | Permitted by resolution | Default official | Minnesota municipalities are not legally required to fly the state flag at all |
| Schools (state-funded) | Check state policy | Recommended official | State education agencies typically expect the current flag |
Minnesota is the live case study. Minnesota statutes do not require municipalities to fly the state flag, so the choice of which version to display is a city council policy decision, and dozens of Minnesota cities have made that decision in opposite directions. By spring 2026, more than a dozen communities, including Elk River, Inver Grove Heights, Champlin, Plainview, and Zumbrota, had passed resolutions to fly the retired flag on public property. A state House bill was introduced in April 2026 to financially penalize cities that refuse to fly the redesigned flag, showing that this is an active legal and political dispute, not a settled one.
The short answer for private flyers: you are free to fly the historic version. It is not disrespectful, and it is not illegal. Many residents own one of each.
Why Are So Many States Redesigning Their Flags?
Two parallel forces are driving the wave: removing historically offensive imagery and applying modern flag-design principles. Ted Kaye's NAVA guidelines, simplicity, two or three colors, meaningful symbolism, no lettering or seals, have given redesign advocates a concrete standard to point to. Most state flags were designed in the late 1800s or early 1900s when "put the state seal on a blue background" was the default.
Minnesota's commission reviewed thousands of public submissions before selecting a base design by Andrew Prekker, a 24-year-old from Luverne. The result is a dark-blue state-shape silhouette on a light-blue field representing Minnesota's waters, with a white eight-pointed North Star echoing the rotunda floor of the state Capitol. Utah's process attracted more than 7,000 resident submissions through its "More Than A Flag" campaign.
What Do You Do With a Retired State Flag?
No state has issued binding disposal rules for retired state flags, unlike the U.S. Flag Code, which provides retirement guidance for American flags. That leaves owners with several reasonable options.
- Keep it as a collectible or heritage display. A retired official flag is a primary historical artifact. Frame it, store it properly, or display it in a commemorative context. The Minnesota Historical Society preserved the original Capitol flag for exactly this reason.
- Donate it. Local historical societies, county museums, and civic organizations often accept retired flags. Contact your city or county government for referrals, Minnesota courts suggested that approach when official disposal guidance was lacking.
- Retire it in a flag retirement ceremony. The same dignified burning ceremony used for worn American flags applies here. Stick Flags used in ceremonies are commonly retired this way at VFW posts and Scout troops, the same organizations will accept state flags.
- Display it alongside the new flag. Many residents and businesses fly both: the current official flag and the retired version as a heritage piece. If you are adding a second pole for the second flag, check our guide on sizing a second flag for your flagpole to get proportions right.
Whatever you choose, make sure your display hardware is solid. A 5-Section 6FT Stainless Steel Flagpole Kit is a practical house-mount option for flying either version cleanly. If you need the full range of flag hardware and flag types, the Flags collection covers both current and historic options.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying a "new" flag for an in-progress state. Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, and others have not adopted any replacement. Any flag labeled as a "new" design for these states is unofficial and has no legal status.
- Assuming the old flag is banned. No completed redesign state has criminalized flying the retired version on private property. The confusion comes from public-building requirements, not universal bans.
- Treating Maine as a completed redesign. Voters rejected the proposed pine-tree revert in November 2024. Maine's current flag is still the seal-on-blue.
- Throwing away a historic flag. A retired official state flag is a collectible. Disposing of it in a landfill is wasteful when framing, donation, or a proper retirement ceremony are all better options.
- Flying the wrong size alongside your U.S. flag. When displaying a state flag on the same pole as the Stars and Stripes, the state flag should be the same size or smaller, always below the U.S. flag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have actually finished redesigning their flags as of 2026?
Three states have completed and enacted new designs: Mississippi (effective January 2021), Utah (effective March 9, 2024), and Minnesota (effective May 11, 2024). All other states with active discussions, including Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maine, New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania, have not finalized or legally adopted a replacement.
Can I still legally fly the old Minnesota or Utah flag?
Yes. No state law prohibits private citizens or businesses from flying a retired state flag. For government buildings, state agencies are required to fly the current official design, but Minnesota municipalities are not legally mandated to fly any state flag, which is why dozens of cities have passed resolutions to use whichever version they prefer.
What is the new Minnesota flag, and why did the state change it?
The new Minnesota flag features a dark-blue shape resembling the state's eastern border, a light-blue field representing its waters, and a white eight-pointed North Star mirroring the state Capitol rotunda floor. The previous design was retired May 11, 2024, partly because its imagery was criticized as depicting the displacement of Native Americans. The commission reviewed thousands of public submissions; the winning design came from Andrew Prekker of Luverne.
Should I buy a new or old state flag as a collectible?
If you want historical significance, the retired version is the collectible. It represents an official period of a state's history and will not be reprinted indefinitely by most manufacturers. If you want the current, display-ready official flag for a home, business, or civic context, buy the redesigned version. Many flag owners keep both.
How do I retire a state flag I no longer want to fly?
You can frame it as a heritage display, donate it to a local historical society or museum, or hold a dignified retirement ceremony identical to the process used for worn American flags. Contact a local VFW post, American Legion, or Boy Scout troop, these organizations regularly conduct flag retirement ceremonies and will accept state flags. No state has issued a formal disposal code for retired state flags.