If Rep. Jamie Allard has her way, Gov. Mike Dunleavy may be forced to take down the “pro-life” flag that’s been flying outside the governor’s mansion for the past year.
Her bill prohibiting government entities from displaying flags representing political viewpoints is among the 21 prefiled bills published Friday, joining the 81 bills and resolutions published a week ago as the Alaska State Legislature prepares to gavel in next Tuesday. The Eagle River Republican was the most prolific legislator in Friday’s batch of releases with five bills, including legislation seeking year-round Daylight Saving Time, a transgender student sports ban and restrictions on school construction funding.
Among prefiled bills from other legislators published Friday are making app providers liable for “age-inappropriate, addictive, or harmful content” accessed by minors (House Bill 46 by Rep. Sarah Vance, a Homer Republican), increasing reporting requirements for use-of-force by law enforcement officers (Senate Bill 42 by Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, an Anchorage Democrat), and increasing protections for minors undergoing treatment at psychiatric hospitals (SB 44 by Sen. Matt Claman, an Anchorage Democrat).
None of the bills published Friday were by the three Democratic members of Juneau’s legislative delegation.
A proposal imposing new restrictions on flags at government sites (HB 45) isn’t likely to have any notable budgetary or policy impact on the day-to-day lives of most Alaskans, but could end up getting plenty of attention for symbolic reasons. It adds a new provision to state law declaring “a governmental entity may not erect or display a flag that represents a political viewpoint, including a viewpoint concerning race, sexual orientation, gender, or a politically partisan or political ideology.”
While the bill’s intent may be similar to legislation across the U.S. seeking to ban LGBTQ Pride flags at schools and similar displays, it also appears it would require Dunleavy to remove the so-called pro-life flag that has been hoisted along with the U.S. and Alaska state flags at the Governor’s Residence since last January. The flag featuring one blue and one pink baby footprint, was the target of a pro-choice protest last June outside the mansion.
HB 45 also allows “an active or retired member of the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard (to) use reasonable force to prevent the desecration, destruction, or removal of the United States flag or to replace the United States flag to a prominent position.”
Allard, a prominent advocate for socially conservative legislation, declined to comment during a brief phone call Friday about the intent of her bill and whether she believes the flag at the governor’s mansion is inappropriate, requesting questions be submitted in writing. A response to questions emailed late Friday afternoon did not receive a response as of Friday evening.
Other bills by Allard include reviving an effort to ban transgender girls from participating on girls sports teams at all grade levels including college (HB 40), making Daylight Saving Time year-round if Congress passes a law allowing states to enact such policies (HB 41), and limiting municipalities to one school construction project or two major maintenance projects a year when seeking bond debt reimbursement from the state (HB 42).
Her bills and those by many other Republicans aren’t likely to pass since both the House and Senate majorities are bipartisan coalitions with more Democrats than Republicans among their ranks.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
