STATEHOUSE — A Senate bill regarding the preservation of Indiana battle flags passed through the Indiana House this week with a unanimous vote. Senate Bill (SB) 323 was cosponsored in the House by State Representative Dick Hamm (R-Richmond). SB 323 renames the Civil War Flags Fund as the Indiana Battle Flags Fund. Under current law, the purpose of the Civil War Flags Fund is to restore and preserve Civil War flags. Effectively, this bill expands the ways in which these funds can be used to include the preservation and restoration of all Indiana battle flags. “It is important that we preserve all of Indiana’s history, and this bill will ensure that every historical flag receives the proper treatment,” said Rep. Hamm. “I believe this will be a very positive thing for our state as an effort to preserve our storied history in Indiana.” Since 2008, the Indiana War Memorials commission has restored approximately 20 Civil War era flags out of a total 400 flags. Each flag costs roughly $20,000 to restore. While this bill does not include an appropriation, an appropriation of $300,000 has been included in the biennial budget to benefit the Indiana War Memorials commission. The last time this fund received an appropriation was in 1987. SB 323 will now head to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. To stay up-to-date on this bill and any other piece of legislation in the General Assembly, visit www.in.gov/legislative. -30- |
