Remember 9/11 with Freedom Flag.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Jennifer Balkcom and 5 co-sponsors

Designates the Freedom Flag as a state symbol and allows public buildings to fly it with the U.S. and North Carolina flags on September 11 each year.

Regular Message Sent To Senate

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Summary — HB 236: "Remember 9/11 with Freedom Flag"

Status: Introduced (first reading 02/27/2025); referred to State and Local Government (if favorable, to Rules). Effective: upon becoming law.

Sponsor(s): Rep. Moss (primary sponsors listed elsewhere include Kidwell and Ward)

Purpose
- Designates the "Freedom Flag" (created by the Freedom Flag Foundation) as an official symbol of North Carolina’s remembrance of lives lost in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and authorizes its display on public buildings and county courthouses statewide on September 11 of each year.

Key provisions
- Adds a new section to Chapter 145 of the North Carolina General Statutes (proposed § 145‑32.1).
- Official designation: The Freedom Flag is declared a symbol of the State’s continued remembrance of American lives lost on 9/11/2001.
- Authorized display: State and local public buildings, institutions, and county courthouses may fly the Freedom Flag together with the U.S. flag and the North Carolina state flag on September 11 each year.
- Donations: Any named public office or public official may accept donated Freedom Flags to be displayed under this authorization.
- Effective date: The act takes effect when it becomes law.

Who or what is affected
- State agencies, local governments, county courthouses and other public institutions choosing to display the Freedom Flag.
- Public officials who may accept donated flags for display.
- No regulatory or programmatic changes to flag protocol beyond permitting this specific display; existing flag etiquette and applicable laws governing flag displays remain in force.

Procedural/timeline notes
- Filed and first read in late February 2025 (filed 02/26/2025; first reading recorded 02/27/2025).
- Referred to the House committee on State and Local Government for consideration; if reported favorably it moves to Rules.
- If enacted, becomes effective immediately upon the Governor’s signature (or upon becoming law without signature).

Potential impacts
- Primarily symbolic and ceremonial — provides an option (not a mandate) for public entities to display the Freedom Flag on September 11.
- No explicit appropriation or recurring fiscal requirement is included in the text; any costs (buying/accepting/displaying flags) would be minor and borne by local offices or donors.