The woke Mayor of Boise, Idaho, Lauren McLean (D), was finally forced to remove the rainbow LGBT “pride” flag from its City Hall following implementation of a new flag law.
McLean tried to circumvent a prior law by formally designating the flag as the “official flag of our city” through a resolution.
In 2025, Idaho passed House Bill 96, which limited the flags that state and local governments (cities, counties, schools, etc.) could display on government property.
It generally restricted flying to the U.S. flag, the Idaho state flag, and a narrow list of approved flags (such as POW/MIA flags, official military flags, or certain historical flags).
Following efforts by some cities, like Boise, to attempt workarounds, HB 561 was introduced as a follow-up “cleanup” bill to close those loopholes and add real penalties.
On March 31, 2026. Idaho Republican Gov. Brad Little (R) ended efforts to play games with the language by signing House Bill 561 into law.
- Expands the definition of “governmental entity” and “government property” to include not just buildings but also adjoining land, parks, roads, boulevards, etc.
- Limits local flags: Cities and counties can only fly their own “official” flags if those were formally designated before January 1, 2023.
- Adds enforcement teeth: Imposes a civil penalty of $2,000 per day, per offending flag.
- Gives the Idaho Attorney General (Raúl Labrador) the authority to enforce the law, including issuing warnings and filing lawsuits.
- Requires a 10-day “cure” period (warning) before fines kick in.
- Removes or tightens some previous exceptions for other flags.
- Includes some carve-outs added during the legislative process (e.g., allowances for certain historic international/cross-border flags or the Basque flag in specific contexts).
KTVB reports that the new rules have forced Boise to back down.
“Today, Governor Little signed HB 561 into law—a bill written with one purpose in mind: to prevent Boise from expressing our values by flying our official Pride flag, something we have done with the support of our community for more than a decade,” she wrote.
The mayor explained that the financial penalties would fall on taxpayers, which led the city to remove the flags from city property. According to the new law, a governmental entity that does not comply with the law will be asked to pay $2,000 per flag for each day the flag is displayed.
“Because the law includes a substantial penalty – one that would ultimately fall on the taxpayers of Boise to shoulder—I decided to take down the city’s official Pride flag,” McLean stated. “But let me be clear: Boise’s values have not changed, and they are not defined by any single action taken at the Statehouse.”
Governor Little signed the bill privately on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 11:44 a.m. Shortly after (around noon), the City of Boise removed the Pride flag from City Hall.
A video was shared of the flag removal while a subdued crowd gathered, like it was a solemn changing of the guard at Arlington, while crooning a self-soothing pride ballad.
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