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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill addresses the state flag of Utah.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ provides for a new state flag of Utah;
13 ▸ describes the design and meaning of the new state flag;
14 ▸ designates the current state flag as the ceremonial state flag;
15 ▸ provides for the display of both flags;
16 ▸ depicts both flags in images; and
17 ▸ provides for a license plate reflecting the state flag of Utah.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 This bill provides a special effective date.
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 AMENDS:
24 41-1a-402, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapters 20, 262
25 ENACTS:
26 63G-1-503, Utah Code Annotated 1953
27 REPEALS AND REENACTS:
28 63G-1-501, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 205
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30 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31 Section 1. Section 41-1a-402 is amended to read:
32 41-1a-402. Required colors, numerals, and letters -- Expiration.
33 (1) Each license plate shall have displayed on it:
34 (a) the registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it is issued;
35 (b) the name of the state; and
36 (c) unless exempted by Section 41-1a-301 or 41-1a-407, a registration decal showing
37 the date of expiration displayed in accordance with Subsection (6).
38 (2) If registration is extended by affixing a registration decal to the license plate, the
39 expiration date of the decal governs the expiration date of the license plate.
40 (3) Except as provided in Subsection (4), each original license plate that is not one of
41 the special group license plates issued under Section 41-1a-418 shall be:
42 (a) a statehood centennial license plate with the same color, design, and slogan as the
43 plates issued in conjunction with the statehood centennial;
44 (b) a Ski Utah license plate; [
45 (c) an In God We Trust license plate[
46 (d) a license plate that reflects the state flag of Utah described in Section 63G-1-501.
47 (4) Beginning on the date that the division determines the existing inventories of
48 statehood centennial license plates and Ski Utah license plates are exhausted, each license plate
49 that is not one of the special group license plates issued under Section 41-1a-418 shall:
50 (a) (i) display the "Life Elevated" slogan; and
51 (ii) have a color and design approved by the 57th Legislature in the 2007 General
52 Session that features:
53 (A) a skier with the "Greatest Snow on Earth" slogan; or
54 (B) Delicate Arch;
55 (b) be an In God We Trust license plate;
56 (c) be a license plate that reflects the state flag of Utah described in Section
57 63G-1-501; or
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59 decals for an apportioned vehicle described in Section 41-1a-301 are exhausted, be a distinctive
60 license plate displaying the word "apportioned" or the abbreviation "APP."
61 (5) (a) Except as provided under Subsection 41-1a-215(2) and Section 41-1a-216,
62 license plates shall be renewed annually.
63 (b) (i) The division shall issue the vehicle owner a month decal and a year decal upon
64 the vehicle's first registration with the division.
65 (ii) The division shall issue the vehicle owner only a year decal upon subsequent
66 renewals of registration to validate registration renewal.
67 (6) The decals issued in accordance with Subsection (5) shall be applied as follows:
68 (a) for license plates issued beginning in 1974 through 1985, decals displayed on
69 license plates with black lettering on a white background shall be applied to the lower left-hand
70 corner of the rear of the license plate vehicles;
71 (b) decals displayed on statehood centennial license plates and on Ski Utah license
72 plates issued in accordance with Subsection (3) shall be applied to the upper left-hand corner of
73 the rear license plate;
74 (c) decals displayed on special group license plates issued in accordance with Section
75 41-1a-418 shall be applied to the upper right-hand corner of the license plate unless there is a
76 plate indentation on the upper left-hand corner of the license plate;
77 (d) decals displayed on license plates with the "Life Elevated" slogan issued in
78 accordance with Subsection (4) shall be applied in the upper left-hand corner for the month
79 decal and the upper right-hand corner for the year decal;
80 (e) decals displayed on license plates with the "In God We Trust" slogan issued in
81 accordance with Subsection (4)(b) shall be applied in the upper right-hand corner of the rear
82 license plate unless there is a plate indentation on the upper left-hand corner of the license
83 plate;
84 (f) decals displayed on license plates reflecting the state flag of Utah issued in
85 accordance with Subsection (4) shall be applied in the upper left-hand corner for the month
86 decal and the upper right-hand corner for the year decal;
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88 plate opposite the word "Utah"; and
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90 applied as appropriate for the year of the plate.
91 (7) (a) The month decal issued in accordance with Subsection (5) shall be displayed on
92 the license plate in the left position.
93 (b) The year decal issued in accordance with Subsection (5) shall be displayed on the
94 license plate in the right position.
95 (8) The current year decal issued in accordance with Subsection (5) shall be placed
96 over or in place of the previous year decal.
97 (9) If a license plate, month decal, or year decal is lost or destroyed, a replacement shall
98 be issued upon application and payment of the fees required under Section 41-1a-1211 or
99 41-1a-1212.
100 (10) (a) A violation of this section is an infraction.
101 (b) A court shall waive a fine for a violation under this section if:
102 (i) the registration for the vehicle was current at the time of the citation; and
103 (ii) the person to whom the citation was issued provides, within 21 business days,
104 evidence that the license plate and decals are properly displayed in compliance with this
105 section.
106 Section 2. Section 63G-1-501 is repealed and reenacted to read:
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108 63G-1-501. State flag -- Description -- Image -- Display.
109 (1) The state flag of Utah shall be a rectangle that has a width to length ratio of three to
110 five and contain the following:
111 (a) two irregular, horizontal lines dividing the flag into three separate segments, of
112 which:
113 (i) the top segment:
114 (A) is located above the higher horizontal line; and
115 (B) is shaded in blue;
116 (ii) the middle segment:
117 (A) is located between the two horizontal lines;
118 (B) is shaded in white;
119 (C) at the higher horizontal line, takes the shape of a mountain with five peaks, the
120 center peak being the tallest and following the shape of the highest point of the hexagon
121 described in Subsection (1)(b); and
122 (D) at the lower horizontal line, following the shape of the lowest point of the hexagon
123 described in Subsection (1)(b); and
124 (iii) the bottom segment:
125 (A) is located below the lower horizontal line; and
126 (B) is shaded in red;
127 (b) one hexagon that:
128 (i) is shaded in blue;
129 (ii) contains a smaller gold hexagon outline; and
130 (iii) is placed within the center of the middle segment described in Subsection
131 (1)(a)(ii);
132 (c) one beehive that:
133 (i) is shaded in gold;
134 (ii) contains five hive sections with a small semicircle removed from the center of the
135 base of the lowest section; and
136 (iii) is placed within the center of the hexagon described in Subsection (1)(b); and
137 (d) one five-pointed Utah star that:
138 (i) is shaded in white; and
139 (ii) is placed below the center of the beehive described in Subsection (1)(c).
140 (2) The state flag shall represent and symbolize the following:
141 (a) the beehive described in Subsection (1)(c) symbolizes industry, community, and the
142 year 1847, the year in which pioneers first settled Utah;
143 (b) the Utah star described in Subsection (1)(d) symbolizes hope and the year 1896, the
144 year in which Utah was admitted to statehood;
145 (c) the hexagon described in Subsection (1)(b) symbolizes the strength of Utah's
146 people;
147 (d) the top segment described in Subsection (1)(a)(i) represents Utah's skies and
148 symbolizes faith;
149 (e) the middle segment described in Subsection (1)(a)(ii) represents peace and Utah's
150 snowy mountains, the peaks of which symbolize Utah's Indigenous peoples; and
151 (f) the bottom segment described in Subsection (1)(a)(iii) represents the red rocks of
152 Southern Utah and symbolizes perseverance and the state's unique landscapes.
153 (3) The state flag shall appear consistent with the following image:
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156 occasions when the state is officially and publicly represented, with the privilege of use by all
157 citizens upon any occasion deemed fitting and appropriate.
158 (5) The lieutenant governor shall establish standards and specifications for the
159 manufacture and display of the state flag.
160 Section 3. Section 63G-1-503 is enacted to read:
161 63G-1-503. Ceremonial state flag -- Description -- Image -- Display.
162 (1) The ceremonial state flag shall be a flag of blue field, with the following device
163 worked in natural colors on the center of the blue field:
164 (a) in the center a shield;
165 (b) above the shield and thereon an American eagle with outstretched wings;
166 (c) the top of the shield pierced with six arrows arranged crosswise;
167 (d) upon the shield under the arrows the word "Industry," and below the word
168 "Industry" on the center of the shield, a beehive;
169 (e) on each side of the beehive, growing sego lilies;
170 (f) below the beehive and near the bottom of the shield, the word "Utah";
171 (g) below the word "Utah" and on the bottom of the shield, the figures "1847";
172 (h) behind the shield, there shall be two American flags on flagstaffs placed crosswise
173 with the flags so draped to project beyond each side of the shield, the heads of the flagstaffs
174 appearing in front of the eagle's wings and the bottom of each staff appearing over the face of
175 the draped flag below the shield;
176 (i) below the shield and flags and upon the blue field, the figures "1896"; and
177 (j) around the entire design, a narrow circle in gold.
178 (2) The ceremonial state flag shall appear consistent with the following image:
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181 deemed fitting and appropriate.
182 (4) The lieutenant governor shall establish standards and specifications for the
183 manufacture and display of the ceremonial state flag.
184 (5) The ceremonial state flag shall be displayed on the capitol hill complex, as defined
185 in Section 63C-9-102, during the annual general session of the Legislature.
186 (6) (a) The ceremonial state flag may be displayed on state property for ceremonial
187 purposes, so long as the flag is serviceable.
188 (b) The ceremonial state flag shall be replaced by the state flag of Utah, as described in
189 Section 63G-1-501, when the ceremonial state flag is not displayed for ceremonial purposes.
190 (c) When displaying the ceremonial state flag on public grounds in any location where
191 the state flag of Utah, as described in Section 63G-1-501, is also displayed, the governmental
192 entity responsible for the display of the flags shall ensure that the ceremonial state flag is
193 displayed beneath the state flag of Utah.
194 Section 4. Effective date.
195 This bill takes effect on March 9, 2024.