Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Senate Bill SB53 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
2	2	LRB-1631/1
3	3	FFK & MIM:klm
4	4	2025 SENATE BILL 53
5	5	February 21, 2025 - Introduced by Senators TOMCZYK and NASS, cosponsored by
6	6	Representatives GOEBEN, GUSTAFSON, BEHNKE, BRILL, GUNDRUM, KNODL,
7	7	KREIBICH, MURPHY, TITTL, TUSLER and WICHGERS. Referred to Committee on
8	8	Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs.
9	9	AN ACT to amend 1.14 (title) and 118.06 (title); to create 1.14 (3) and 118.06
10	10	(3) of the statutes; relating to: requiring the display of the national motto in
11	11	public schools and on public buildings.
12	12	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
13	13	This bill requires, within 6 months of the effective date of the bill, that each
14	14	public building in this state display the national motto, XIn God We Trust,Y in a
15	15	location that is visible to the public if the building is open to the public, and in a
16	16	location where notices for employees are regularly posted if it is a building that is
17	17	not open to the public.
18	18	Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the bill also requires that the national
19	19	motto, XIn God We Trust,Y be displayed in each public school classroom, including
20	20	charter school classrooms. Under current law, each school board and governing
21	21	body of a private school must display the U.S. flag in the schoolroom or from a
22	22	flagstaff on the school grounds during the school hours of each school day.
23	23	Under the bill, the required displays in both public buildings and public
24	24	schools must 1) be at least 11 inches by 14 inches, 2) be on a poster, in a framed
25	25	document, or inscribed on a wall, and 3) be presented in English in a legible font.
26	26	For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
27	27	an appendix to this bill.
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30	30	3 2025 - 2026 Legislature
31	31	SENATE BILL 53
32	32	- 2 - LRB-1631/1
33	33	FFK & MIM:klm
34	34	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
35	35	enact as follows:
36	36	SECTION 1. 1.14 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
37	37	1.14 (title) Display of flag and national motto at public buildings,
38	38	structures, and facilities.
39	39	SECTION 2. 1.14 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
40	40	1.14 (3) Within 6 months of the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB
41	41	inserts date], each state agency, state authority, and local governmental unit shall
42	42	ensure that the national motto, XIn God We TrustY is displayed at each building
43	43	that is owned or occupied entirely by the agency, authority, or local governmental
44	44	unit. The agency, authority, or unit shall ensure that the display satisfies all of the
45	45	following:
46	46	(a) It is at least 11 inches by 14 inches.
47	47	(b) It is on a poster, in a framed document, or inscribed on a wall.
48	48	(c) The national motto is in English and is in a legible font.
49	49	(d) If the building, structure, or facility is open to the public, the display is in
50	50	a location that is visible to the visiting public. If the building, structure, or facility
51	51	is not open to the public, the display is posted in a location where notices to
52	52	employees are customarily posted.
53	53	SECTION 3. 118.06 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
54	54	118.06 (title) Flag, pledge of allegiance, national motto, and national
55	55	anthem.
56	56	SECTION 4. 118.06 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
57	57	118.06 (3) (a) Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, each school board and
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79	79	22 2025 - 2026 Legislature
80	80	SENATE BILL 53
81	81	- 3 - LRB-1631/1
82	82	FFK & MIM:klm
83	83	SECTION 4
84	84	governing board of a charter school shall cause the national motto, XIn God We
85	85	TrustY, to be displayed in each classroom of each school under its control. Except as
86	86	provided in par. (b), the school board or governing board shall determine the nature
87	87	of the display.
88	88	(b) A school board or governing board of a charter school shall ensure that a
89	89	display of the national motto under par. (a) satisfies all of the following:
90	90	1. It is at least 11 inches by 14 inches.
91	91	2. It is on a poster, in a framed document, or inscribed on a wall.
92	92	3. The national motto is in English and is in a legible font.
93	93	(END)
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