Yesterday afternoon the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 428, a bill that would prohibit local units of government from buying flags assembled or manufactured outside of the United States if competitively priced flags of comparable quality are made in Michigan or somewhere else in the U.S.

The bill would amend Public Act 63 of 1915, which provides for the furnishing of flag holders and United States flags for the graves of U.S. military veterans. The Bill would also require local units to post on their website that they bought foreign made flags or holders because competitively priced and comparable quality products made in the U.S. were not available.

The bill would also allow a resident to bring an action against a local unit that did not comply with the bill. The legislation now goes to the House for approval.