Does it still need need final approval? And other questions about Minnesota's new state flag design

Minnesota has a new design for its state flag. That doesn't mean the debate is going to stop.

The commission tasked with redesigning the state's emblems still has to dot the i's and cross the t's on its work, and Republican legislators upset about the redesign process plan to make it an issue in the next legislative session.

For those who like the state's new flag design — an abstract shape of the state with a North Star and light blue to represent water — it will likely be available for purchase before it starts flying atop government buildings.

Here's what you need to know about what comes next:

Not quite. The State Emblems Redesign Commission adopted the final flag design Tuesday and the seal last week, but it still needs to submit its final report to the Legislature by Jan. 1. That report will include the designs, the Pantone colors to use on each and any other recommendations. Members plan to meet next week to compile their report.

When the DFL-led Legislature created the 13-member commission last session, it intentionally didn't create an easy escape hatch on the new flag over concerns about throwing it into the political process. The way the law is written, the flag will start flying without an up-or-down vote from lawmakers.

The Legislature created the commission that came up with the flag, so lawmakers could undo the panel and nullify the report it submits, but that's not an easy option and would need buy-in from the governor.

Not the way the law is currently written, but Sen. Steve Drazkowski and Rep. Bjorn Olson — two Republican nonvoting members of the commission — said they are going to introduce a bill next session to put the final flag design up for a vote from the public. They said they were frustrated with how quickly the emblems were redesigned and felt the public was silenced through the process.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who is a member of the commission, warned that move likely isn't allowed under Minnesota's Constitution because it's not a referendum state. Their legislation is not likely to get backing from the DFL-led House and Senate.

Flags For Good, a company run by designers, has already opened up pre-orders on stickers and three different sizes of Minnesota's new flag design. Grant MacArthur, a contractor with Herold Flags in Rochester, said it will be at least a month before the flags will start appearing in the shop because they'll have to do a custom design until they're more widely flown in the public.

When the public submitted more than 2,600 new flag and seal designs to the commission in October, those images immediately became property of the state of Minnesota. Some designers and fans of the rejected flags now want the option to sell alternative flag concepts to the public. The commission has consulted with the attorney general and is likely to recommend releasing rights to those designs so they can go back into the public domain.

It will start flying atop government buildings on Statehood Day, which is May 11.

While the old design will be removed from public buildings next year, some Minnesotans have said they plan to fly the longstanding state flag in protest.