Legislature moves to delay referendum on Maine state flag until 2026 [Video]

AUGUSTA — A proposal to ditch Maine’s current state flag and replace it with a design based on a version from the early 1900s may not go before voters until 2026 now that both the House and Senate have voted in favor a two-year delay.

The Senate voted 20-13 Monday in favor of L.D. 471, which would establish a five-member Maine State Flag Commission to assist Secretary of State Shenna Bellows in approving the design of the new flag. The bill also was approved by the House of Representatives last week and faces final votes in each chamber as well as approval from Gov. Janet Mills.

The proposal comes after lawmakers voted last year to hold a referendumthis fall so voters could decide whether to redesign the state flag based on an earlier version used from 1901 to 1909. The original flag has a star in the upper left corner and a pine tree in the center, but there has been debate about …