COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers are renewing efforts to restrict which flags may be displayed on state-owned buildings, months after Gov. Mike DeWine partially vetoed a similar measure included in the state budget.
House Bill 602, introduced in November by Reps. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, and Rodney Creech, R-Alexandria, would limit state agencies to flying only the U.S. flag, the Ohio flag, the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag, and flags representing state agencies that have been approved by the governor or a designee.
The proposal closely mirrors language originally included in House Bill 96, the two-year state budget passed earlier this year. Lawmakers had sought to restrict nongovernment flags, a move critics said targeted LGBTQ+ Pride flags and other symbols of political or social movements.
DeWine vetoed part of that provision in June, writing that the language would have prevented the state from honoring military branches, local governments, or “other worthy public causes” unless their flags appeared on a pre-approved list. He argued governors should retain the authority to approve additional flags when appropriate.
House Bill 602 would reinstate the stricter version of the policy. Under the bill, state agencies could display their own flags only if approved by the governor or a designee. As before, the Statehouse and its grounds would be exempt.
Swearingen said the renewed measure is intended to clarify the original purpose of the restriction.
“This bill should be passed because government buildings and property represent the state of Ohio and the United States, not other counties or private political or social movements,” Swearingen said in a statement to NBC4. “The bill reinserts the language that was vetoed, clarifying this intent.”
The flag provision was one of several budget measures condemned by LGBTQ+ advocates. Lawmakers also proposed limiting access to LGBTQ-themed library materials, restricting funding to youth shelters that affirm social gender transition, and codifying a definition recognizing only male and female as sexes “grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”
At the time, Equality Ohio called the budget proposal “the most reckless bill to come out of the Ohio legislature,” arguing the provisions amounted to censorship and would harm vulnerable youth.
House Republican leaders defended the restrictions as “common sense” and said the flag rule was intended to reduce cultural and political conflict in public spaces. Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, said in April that public buildings should display “symbols that are broadly accepted by everybody rather than sort of inserting government into these more divisive ideas.”
Democratic lawmakers opposed the measures, arguing they targeted LGBTQ+ Ohioans and did not belong in the state budget. Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney, D-Westlake, said earlier this year that such policies “should be a standalone bill” open to full public testimony.
When DeWine signed the budget, he issued vetoes on several of the LGBTQ-related provisions, including a partial veto of the youth-shelter funding restriction and a full veto of the library materials provision, which Republican lawmakers previously considered overriding.
House Bill 602 has been referred to the House General Government Committee, but has not yet received a hearing open for public testimony.