2,044 events on record Subscribe September 10, 2026
Standing Record home The Standing Record A non-partisan record of US democratic norms —
and the events that erode them.

Idaho Gov. Little signed HB 561, fining cities $2,000 a day for displaying an LGBTQ+ pride flag on government property

On March 31, 2026, Idaho Governor Brad Little signed House Bill 561, which restricts flags on state and local government property to a pre-approved list and authorizes $2,000-per-day fines, enforced by the attorney general, against cities that display non-approved flags. The bill's House sponsor acknowledged the measure was aimed at Boise, which had flown an LGBTQ+ pride flag at City Hall. The city removed the flag at noon the same day, minutes after the signing.

Jurisdiction
Idaho
Location
Boise, Idaho

Abuses documented

Actors

On March 31, 2026, Idaho Governor Brad Little signed House Bill 561, a measure that restricts the flags that may be displayed on state and local government property to a pre-approved list — the U.S. and Idaho flags, U.S. military branch and POW/MIA flags, recognized Native American tribal flags, and city or county flags officially adopted before 2023. The law, which took effect immediately, establishes fines of $2,000 per day for each offending flag, pursued by the Idaho Attorney General through civil enforcement after a violation notice and a 10-day compliance window.

The bill's House sponsor, Rep. Ted Hill (R-Eagle), acknowledged that the measure targeted Boise specifically, which had flown an LGBTQ+ pride flag at City Hall. Within minutes of the signing, the city removed the pride flag at noon. Mayor Lauren McLean said the law "seeks to erase both the values we hold dear and people who are integral to our community," while City Council President Meredith Stead described the pride flag as a "symbol of heritage, welcome, and safety" and said the city would comply.

The law was enacted in the same 2026 Idaho legislative session as other measures affecting LGBTQ+ residents. By conditioning a substantial daily penalty on the display of a flag associated with support for LGBTQ+ people, it uses state power to single out one community's expression for disfavored treatment.

Updates

2026-04-08 — Boise wrapped its flagpoles in rainbow colors as a workaround [4]

About a week after removing the pride flag, Boise City Hall installed rainbow-colored wraps on its flagpoles and added rainbow signage, a response widely reported as circumventing the law's intent without violating its literal flag ban.

Why we recorded this

Civil rights protect the ability of communities and their elected governments to express belonging and welcome without state penalty. Idaho enacted House Bill 561, restricting flags on government property to a pre-approved list and imposing $2,000-per-day fines, after the bill's sponsor openly acknowledged it targeted Boise for flying an LGBTQ+ pride flag at City Hall. A law crafted to penalize one city for a specific expression of support for LGBTQ+ residents singles out a marginalized group for disfavored treatment, which is why this belongs in the archive.

Sources

  1. Boise removes LGBTQ+ pride flag as Idaho governor signs bill to fine city for its display — Idaho Capital Sun investigative accessed July 10, 2026
  2. Governor Little signs HB561 forcing Boise to remove Pride flag from City Hall — Idaho News 6 (KIVI) investigative accessed July 10, 2026
  3. 2026 - HB 561 - Flags on Government Property — ACLU of Idaho secondary accessed July 10, 2026
  4. Boise wraps flagpoles in rainbow colors after pride flag ban — Boise State Public Radio investigative accessed July 11, 2026

See also