Idaho Governor Signs Bill Fining Boise for LGBTQ+ Pride Flag Display

Boise mayor says city's welcoming spirit won't change despite state's crackdown on flag displays

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:04am

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Minutes after Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a bill that would fine cities for flying flags that aren't on the Legislature's pre-approved list, the city of Boise took down an LGBTQ+ pride flag that flew in front of its City Hall. Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said the flag isn't political, religious or ideological, but the Legislature's moves don't change the spirit of Boise.

Why it matters

The new law allows fines of $2,000 per day for cities that violate the state's flag ban, which was passed last year without an enforcement mechanism. The bill's sponsor said it is meant to target Boise for flying the LGBTQ+ pride flag, which the city had declared an official flag. The law is part of a broader effort by the Republican-controlled Idaho Legislature to restrict local control and LGBTQ+ visibility.

The details

House Bill 561 allows fines for cities that violate last year's flag ban law, which lacked an enforcement mechanism. The fines are $2,000 daily, per offending flag. The Republican supermajority-controlled Legislature widely passed the bill. The bill's House sponsor, Rep. Ted Hill, an Eagle Republican, has said his bill is meant to target the city of Boise for flying an LGBTQ+ pride flag. Boise's City Council voted last year to declare the pride flag and the organ donor flag as official flags, in an apparent move to work around the Legislature's flag ban law passed last year.

  • On April 1, 2026, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed the bill at 11:44 a.m.
  • Boise removed its LGBTQ+ pride flag at noon on April 1, 2026, shortly after the governor signed the bill.

The players

Brad Little

The Republican governor of Idaho who signed the bill fining cities for flying unapproved flags.

Lauren McLean

The mayor of Boise who said the city's welcoming spirit won't change despite the state's crackdown on flag displays.

Ted Hill

The Republican state representative who sponsored the bill, saying it was meant to target Boise for flying an LGBTQ+ pride flag.

Meredith Stead

The Boise City Council president who said the pride flag is a 'symbol of heritage, welcome, and safety.'

Raúl Labrador

The Idaho Attorney General who would be able to enforce the law through lawsuits and seek civil court fines.

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What they’re saying

“Despite the efforts taken by the Legislature, the values and spirit of the city won't change — cannot be changed. Because the care that we have for our residents runs deep, and we will continue to fight to ensure that we're a safe and welcoming city for everyone.”

— Lauren McLean, Boise Mayor

“We are taking it down because the law forces us to, but our commitment to every person who has looked at that flag and felt seen does not waver for a single moment.”

— Meredith Stead, Boise City Council President

“Local control is an important principle we should stand behind. It's good for governance. It's always made sense. And it still does. But statutes like this shows that we are kind of losing sight of that important principle.”

— James Ruchti, Senate Assistant Minority Leader

What’s next

The Legislature is also pursuing a separate bill that would let Attorney General Raúl Labrador seek to temporarily disqualify local elected officials and government employees from holding office or working for the government if they 'willfully' violate state law.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tension between state and local control in Idaho, as well as the Republican-led Legislature's efforts to restrict LGBTQ+ visibility and expression, even in progressive cities like Boise.