When flags are flown at half mast, is the US flag still displayed higher than a state flag?

Generally yes.

In the US, when the country’s flag is to be displayed at half-staff, there is an official notification. Some, such as certain memorial days, are published on a government calendar. Others, such as the Boston massacre, are issued by the US President. Notifications can also be made by a state or city official when it pertains to their area.

When a notification is made, not only should the US flag be flown at half staff, but any other flag(s) on the pole or nearby poles. State, city, group flags should be displayed at an equal height or lower than the US flag at any time. (And yes, that includes the Texas state flag.)

So who is required to participate? Government-run businesses are required to lower their flags. For private citizens displaying a flag, it should be done as well, but doesn’t appear to be required.

Can Joe Citizen fly his flag at half mast whenever he wants? Yes.

@Pied_Pfeffer GA! I love the TX comment, too funny. I haven’t seen you in a while, glad your back!

We just lowered our flags to half-staff at our military installation yesterday to commemorate the tragedy that occurred in Boston, Massachusetts. Our notifications for lowering our flags usually come from the governor’s office of the state of Arizona or higher.

As a rule, at least in the United States and its territories, NO flag should fly higher than the United States flag, ever. The state flag should always be placed slightly lower than the United States flag when they are both flying at half mast. At our installation, the flagpole that flies the United States flag is several feet higher than the flagpole that we use to fly the state flag.

As far as someone flying a personal flag at half staff, like a residence for example, I don’t know any official policy on this but I would suspect that someone would do it out of respect for tragic current events that would warrant it just like military, government, and state installations doing the very same thing.

Not to be pissy but consistent with the U.S. Flag Code, the Texas Flag Code specifies that the state flag should either be flown below the U.S. flag if on the same pole or at the same height as the U.S. flag if on separate poles.

Of course, any state can do this, Texas Code just specifies it.

@rojo She said that, equal or lower.

I stand corrected.

The US flag is always displayed above any other flag or flags. (Generally speaking, of course. At the UN or NATO headquarters, to name at least two, there may be other circumstances.)