August 8, 2023 – The Illinois state flag could be getting a redesign under a measure spearheaded by State Sen. Doris Turner and signed into law by Gov. Pritzker Monday.
Senate Bill 1818, which Sen. Turner initially filed in February 2023, has created the Illinois Flag Commission, which will develop new state flag designs and make replacement recommendations, if necessary, to the General Assembly by December 3, 2024. The current flag consists of the Illinois state seal on a white background with “ILLINOIS” printed under the seal.
“While the state seal represents government, the flag should be a symbol for the people. History is living, breathing and ever-evolving and our flag needs to represent what makes Illinois the great state it is,” Sen. Turner said in a statement Monday.
Throughout its history, Illinois has had two state flags. According to the Illinois State Museum, the first was adopted in 1915 and was selected from 35 designs submitted by Daughters of the American Revolution chapters from across the state. In 1969, the second design was signed into law and added the state’s name in large block font to the bottom of the existing flag. The new measure could result in the state’s third flag design, which could be completely different for the first time since the state’s founding.
In 2021, Utah created a similar flag redesign commission, which received around 7,000 flag designs and over 44,000 comments from the public. Utah’s Department of Cultural and Community Engagement said students, educators, families and more were invited to comment on designs, with the new flag signed into law by the state’s governor in March 2023.
To learn more about SB1818, click HERE.
