Democrats in the Washington state Legislature have introduced House Bill 1938, which would create the Washington State Flag Redesign Committee to lead efforts to create a new flag.
The process would specifically include removing the image of George Washington, the first president of the United States, because, according to the legislation, George Washington has limited historical connection to the state itself and does not reflect the unique character of the state or the diversity and values of all Washingtonians.
“The legislature finds that the Washington state flag often faces criticism for its poor design and lack of relevance to the state's identity,” the legislation states. The flag features a detailed portrait of George Washington, making it overly complex and difficult to reproduce which is a violation of key flag design principles that prioritize simplicity. Additionally, while George Washington is an important national figure, he has limited historical connection to the state itself. This makes his image less meaningful as a symbol for the state. The Legislature further finds that the flag fails in other ways aesthetically. It uses too many colors, and its design is essentially a seal on a green background with text. This is widely regarded as an outdated and uninspired approach to flag design. As one of 28 state flags in the United States that showcase a seal on a solid color, Washington's flag lacks distinctiveness and fails to capture the unique character of the state. The current flag, though historically significant, does not resonate with the state's evolving identity. The legislature intends to create the Washington state flag redesign committee that will oversee the process to design and adopt a state flag that symbolizes unity and represents the unique character of the state.”
State Rep. Hunter Abell, R-Inchelium, condemned the bill and offered legislation to honor George Washington more by renaming Presidents Day to its original name, George Washington's Birthday.
"George Washington holds a special place in our nation's history and even the very fabric of who we are as a people,” Abell said in a news release by House Republicans. “So many schools, streets, counties, institutions, military bases, roads and bridges are named after our first Founding Father. To be the only state in the nation to be named after a president is a distinct honor, one that we should not take for granted, and we certainly should not be ashamed of or attempt to eliminate him from our flag."
Abell's proposal, House Bill 1446, would officially change the state holiday of Presidents Day to George Washington's Birthday, as it was from 1879 to 1968. Even though "Presidents Day" is widely used at the federal level, no law has changed the name, and the holiday remains Washington's birthday.
"We should remember the heroes of our nation's past and present. They are part of what makes this nation, this melting pot of ideas, nationalities, hopes and dreams, such an amazing and unique country," Abell said in the release. "Not all traditions are bad."
A public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday in the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations. The legislation is scheduled for an executive session in the committee on Wednesday.
The bill is sponsored by Democratic state Reps. Strom Peterson, Julia Reed and Greg Nance.
If the bill is passed, the Washington State Flag Redesign Committee would be tasked with approving and adopting a design by July 2028. The new design would need to be approved in a referendum of voters, according to the legislation.
The 2025 legislative session ends on April 27.
