A pair of patriotic bills intended to encourage American unity are under consideration in the North Carolina General Assembly, advancing out of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

The “Depoliticize Government Property Act” (HB 244) introduces measures to restrict non-official flags from being displayed on government property. The purpose is to maintain a neutral stance on government grounds by allowing only official flags, such as the US flag, the North Carolina state flag, and municipal flags, to be flown at government buildings. 

“Government represents all the citizens and should serve them equally; therefore, it should be neutral,” said Rep. Brian Echevarria, R-Cabarrus. “It is simply that the government serves all the citizens equally. It should be neutral.”

Democrats raised concerns over the First Amendment and government representation, suggesting potential lawsuits could come over free speech. Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, asked if she would be in violation of the law by displaying trans, pride, and Ukrainian flags.

However, there is a difference between private speech and government speech, with staff explaining that the government is able to decide what views it wants to express. The proposal targets official government flags flown or displayed by the institution or political subdivision of the state on the premises of the state government.

The “Stars and Stripes Commitment Act” also passed the committee and mandates that all schools in North Carolina incorporate daily recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance and ensure the prominent display of both the United States and North Carolina flags. The bill (HB 186) seeks to standardize the way the pledge is recited, ensuring that all educational institutions follow the federally recognized version of the pledge, including the phrase “under God.”

“We found that different boards of education, State Board of Education, county and city boards of education, were using different variations of the pledge,” said Rep. Brian Biggs, R-Randolph. “And we just want to make it uniform that you say the federally recognized pledge.”

Democrats raised concerns about the inclusion of “under God” and accommodations for non-religious students. Biggs said the policy doesn’t require an individual to recite the Pledge of Allegiance if they choose not to participate.

SEE ALSO: NC House advances Pledge of Allegiance bill

Both proposals reflect a growing effort to reassert traditional symbols of patriotism in public spaces at the state and federal levels.