Hot take I get the whole no text on flags thing but the words on CAs flag make it more visually appealing.
Unrelated but I'd be interested in seeing a full rendition of state flags with a unifying design feature like a stripe on the left or bottom side (symbolizing American state hood).
To each their own. I think the CA flag (and just flags in general) are more appealing and interesting without text, as anything that you can put as overt text can instead be represented with a symbol or image that fits better with the flag's design. But again, that's just me.
I've seen unifying redesigns like that. I recall seeing a couple on Reddit where every flag had a star.
Going along with my Maryland design on my redesigns of The List of Flags that Must Never Be Touched™, here's my take on the California flag! It's mainly just simplifying things, mostly because I prefer this more bare-bones look and dislike text on flags, but also to keep it consistent with my other flag designs. I think just having red on white gives the flag a really satisfying aesthetic compared to the actual flag.