The Pennsylvania flag has been criticized for the complexity of its design, and its inability to stand out from other similar state flags across the US. Several attempts have been made by the Pennsylvania legislature and the public to address these criticisms by changing or altering the flag.
2001 NAVA Survey In 2001, the
North American Vexillological Association surveyed 100 of its members and 337 members of the general public on the designs of the 72
U.S. state,
U.S. territorial and
Canadian provincial flags. The survey ranked Pennsylvania's flag 57th out of the 72, with a score of 3.69 on a scale of 0 to 10. Its low ranking was attributed to both the complexity of the coat of arms on its design, and its inability to stand out among a sea of similar “
seal on a bedsheet” designs common to more than half of U.S. state flags.
Attempts to add "Pennsylvania" to the flag (2004–2014) Between 2004 and 2014, several attempts were made to add the word "Pennsylvania" to the state flag. According to former State Representative Tim Solobay (who introduced the first set of bills), this was intended to make Pennsylvania's flag more unique and identifiable. While the bill failed to leave committee in the first two sessions it was introduced, a 2006 survey offered by Solobay's office to help refine the defined design may have swayed legislators to act on the bill, which was amended on May 7, 2007. On June 11, 2007, The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted in favor of the bill, 164–31. and on the next session day, a second similar bill was introduced by former State Representative Gary Haluska with a competing definition of the design. Neither bill was raised in committee that session. Haluska's proposal was reintroduced alone in both the 2011–12 and 2013–14 sessions, and died in committee both times. File:Flag of Pennsylvania with name added below (2004 Proposal).svg|alt=2004 proposal, interpreted to mean "Pennsylvania" is written below the coat of arms|2004–2007 proposal, The flag incorporates a
keystone symbol, the
de-facto state emblem of Pennsylvania, into a tricolor design using the colors of the
state's coat of arms as a reference to the symbolism of the existing flag. Stark launched a
Kickstarter campaign in November 2022 to print flags and create other merchandise featuring the design, raising more than $4,500. The design later began being sold by multiple unrelated manufacturers and has since seen more popular use, including on a lapel pin worn by state representative Izzy Smith-Wade-El, and has been referenced by multiple media outlets.
Broad redesign efforts (2023-present) On June 16, 2023, Pennsylvania State Representative
Joe Webster released a memorandum proposing a commission to "study the history of the state flag, solicit design submissions for a new state flag, and recommend changes to the state flag." A House Resolution was formally introduced later that month, but did not receive a hearing before the legislative session ended. Webster has issued a new memorandum for the 2025-26 session. == Galleries ==