Relates to requiring the board of regents to obtain legislative approval of any rule or regulation containing an unfunded mandate

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Alexis Weik

UNFURL Act aims to update federal flag-use rules to reaffirm liberty; exact provisions and affected parties are not yet disclosed.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION

Summary: S. 4623 – UNFURL Act of 2024

Quick facts

Bill number: S. 4623

Official short/title: “Updating National Flag Use to Reaffirm Liberty Act of 2024” (UNFURL Act of 2024)

Status: Introduced in the Senate; read twice and referred to the Judiciary Committee

Introduced on: June 20, 2024

Sponsor: Senator Ted Cruz (primary)

Related House companions: HR 5009 and HR 8070 (companion bills)

What the bill aims to do

The title indicates the bill is intended to “update” the use of the national flag in order to reaffirm liberty. The version content provided for this bill only includes the citation language for the act and does not contain the substantive text or specific provisions.

Because the available version content does not include the bill’s sections, the exact changes to flag use, display, etiquette, or related legal requirements are not specified here.

What is known from the available information

The bill has a Senate sponsor (Ted Cruz) and was introduced on June 20, 2024.

Upon introduction, it was read twice and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is the typical step for bills that may involve constitutional or legal/constitutional issues, civil rights, or related legal standards.

There are House companion bills (HR 5009 and HR 8070), suggesting parallel or related proposals in the House of Representatives.

Potential scope and impact (based on title, not the text)

Given the title, the legislation likely seeks to revise or update federal or national norms around flag usage, possibly including who may display the flag, where it may be displayed, and under what contexts, with the aim of reaffirming liberty.

Without the full text, it is not possible to identify:

Specific provisions (e.g., permitted/display rules, penalties, exemptions)
Affected actors (federal agencies, state/local governments, schools, federal contractors, individuals)
Funding, compliance deadlines, or implementation timelines
Civil rights, constitutional implications, or enforcement mechanisms

Procedural and timeline notes

Current status is at the introduction stage with referral to the Judiciary Committee.

Typical next steps (subject to Senate action): committee hearings or markups, committee report, potential floor consideration by the full Senate, and as a companion measure, potential action in the House on HR 5009 or HR 8070.

No specific dates beyond the introduction (June 20, 2024) are provided in the available information.

What to watch for

The full text will reveal the exact changes to flag use and the practical implications for agencies, institutions, and individuals.

Monitoring the Judiciary Committee’s actions (hearing dates, amendments, reports) and updates to the companion House bills will provide clarity on the bill’s trajectory and potential impact.