Members of the State Emblems Resign Commission on Tuesday voted to adopt a new state seal design centered around a loon.

While the new state symbol will be based on the design, the 13-member panel could still make modifications, such as dates, language, the design of a star on the seal, and the color of the loon’s eye, which in the current design is white.

According to the designer’s statement on the emblems commission website, the seal “features the state bird in a pose that signifies pride and energy.”

One of the finalists for the Minnesota state seal design as selected by the State Emblems Redesign Committee in St. Paul on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2022. (Courtesy of the State Emblems Redesign Commission)

Waves in the water symbolize the state’s many lakes, wild rice symbolizes agriculture, and pine trees represent the state’s forests. There are 19 stars to show Minnesota is the 19th state to join the union after the original 13. A large star represents Minnesota.

Above the loon is the state’s motto: L’Étoile du Nord, “the star of the north.”

Two weeks ago the commission narrowed down five seal finalists from more than 500 design submissions. Now the commission will have to pick a new state flag from more than 2,000 submissions, which it narrowed down to six.

The 13-member emblems panel is required to finish its work by the end of this year, and the state will have to adopt a new seal and flag by May 11, unless lawmakers reject their recommendations.

The decision on the state seal comes after a public input period last week where it took about 6,000 comments on the seal finalists on 15,000 comments on the flag finalists.

Minnesota’s symbols have long been criticized for their unmemorable design and depiction of white settlers displacing the area’s Native inhabitants.

Earlier this year, the Legislature passed a state government and elections bill that called for the creation of a commission to find a new flag and seal.

Commissioners started regular meetings on the flag and seal design in September and opened for public submissions in October.

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