Alabama Senate committee removes limits from flag display bill

A bill that could have limited the kinds of flags that could be flown on public property now gives cities an option to fly a particular flag.

SB 4, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, offered a substitute in committee that allows public entities to display the Freedom Flag, a banner designed to commemorate victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

“I know we had some very healthy debate in this committee for several weeks — very simple and that is the Freedom Flag, or give authority to fly [the flag] on any public property. And that’s all it says,” Allen said.

Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, seemed happy to pass the substituted bill.

Alabama bill restricting flag displays gets stricter, gets delayed

“I just want to know that we’re finished with this flag business,” she said.

The bill would no longer limit the kind of flags that can be displayed on public property. The previous version of the bill would have limited the flags that could be flown to the national flag; “The official flag of any nation or state that preceded the United States or the State of Alabama in controlling any territory currently constituting the State of Alabama;” the official flag of a U.S. state, territory or district; official flag of any Alabama county or municipality; National League of POW/MIA Families flag; or the Freedom Flag. It would have made it a misdemeanor to fly an unapproved flag. 

The Freedom Flag Foundation, a Virginia-based non-profit organization, aims to make their flag a nationally recognized symbol of remembrance for 9/11.

The bill passed unanimously, and it goes to the Senate.