Board of trustees-systems of public recreation amendments-2.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Allemand and 4 co-sponsors

Requires displaying the official POW/MIA flag on all state-owned and public school buildings when the U.S. flag is displayed, if the flag can be attached to an existing pole.

H COW:H Did not consider for COW

Summary — HB 288: POW/MIA Flag / State Buildings and Schools

Status: Introduced (Mar 4, 2025). Effective: upon enactment (bill directs "effective when it becomes law").

Purpose
- Require the official Prisoner of War / Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag to be displayed and flown at State-owned buildings and at public school buildings whenever the United States flag is displayed — but only when the POW/MIA flag can be attached to an existing flagpole.

Key provisions
- Display requirement: The official POW/MIA flag must be displayed and flown over all State-owned buildings and all public school buildings whenever the U.S. flag is displayed, provided the POW/MIA flag can be attached to an existing flagpole.
- Size/material/standards: POW/MIA flags must be of suitable size and material and must be displayed and flown in accordance with applicable State and U.S. flag display policies and procedures.
- Exclusion: This requirement does not apply to the POW/MIA flag flown over the State Capitol (which is governed by separate statute).
- Procurement: The State will purchase POW/MIA flags for State-owned buildings in the same manner it purchases the North Carolina flag. Local boards of education may either accept donated POW/MIA flags or purchase them using available funds.
- No new enforcement mechanism or penalties are specified in the text.

Who is affected
- State entities that own buildings (agencies, departments) — responsible for procuring and displaying POW/MIA flags when feasible.
- Local school boards and public schools — responsible for obtaining/displaying flags (may accept donations).
- Minimal operational impact on staff who manage flag displays; must ensure compliance with flag protocols.

Potential fiscal and administrative impact
- One-time and ongoing minimal costs to procure POW/MIA flags for State buildings and public schools. The bill instructs procurement to follow existing purchasing procedures (same as NC flag), and permits donations to reduce local cost.
- Administrative tasks: inventory of flagpoles to determine attachment feasibility, procurement, and adherence to flag-display rules. No detailed fiscal estimate is provided in the bill text.

Procedural/timeline notes
- Introduced March 4, 2025 (sponsor: Rep. Goodwin). Referred to relevant committees (Homeland Security & Military and Veterans Affairs; State & Local Government; Rules per chamber practice).
- Becomes effective immediately upon becoming law.

Brief assessment
- The bill standardizes and expands public display of the POW/MIA flag across State-owned buildings and public schools, honoring POW/MIA recognition while limiting the requirement to locations where the flag can be attached to existing poles. Fiscal impacts are expected to be modest and largely involve the purchase and maintenance of flags and routine administrative oversight.