2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-1631/1
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2025 SENATE BILL 53
February 21, 2025 - Introduced by Senators TOMCZYK and NASS, cosponsored by
Representatives GOEBEN, GUSTAFSON, BEHNKE, BRILL, GUNDRUM, KNODL,
KREIBICH, MURPHY, TITTL, TUSLER and WICHGERS. Referred to Committee on
Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs.
AN ACT to amend 1.14 (title) and 118.06 (title); to create 1.14 (3) and 118.06
(3) of the statutes; relating to: requiring the display of the national motto in
public schools and on public buildings.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires, within 6 months of the effective date of the bill, that each
public building in this state display the national motto, XIn God We Trust,Y in a
location that is visible to the public if the building is open to the public, and in a
location where notices for employees are regularly posted if it is a building that is
not open to the public.
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the bill also requires that the national
motto, XIn God We Trust,Y be displayed in each public school classroom, including
charter school classrooms. Under current law, each school board and governing
body of a private school must display the U.S. flag in the schoolroom or from a
flagstaff on the school grounds during the school hours of each school day.
Under the bill, the required displays in both public buildings and public
schools must 1) be at least 11 inches by 14 inches, 2) be on a poster, in a framed
document, or inscribed on a wall, and 3) be presented in English in a legible font.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
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The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 1.14 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
1.14 (title) Display of flag and national motto at public buildings,
structures, and facilities.
SECTION 2. 1.14 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
1.14 (3) Within 6 months of the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB
inserts date], each state agency, state authority, and local governmental unit shall
ensure that the national motto, XIn God We TrustY is displayed at each building
that is owned or occupied entirely by the agency, authority, or local governmental
unit. The agency, authority, or unit shall ensure that the display satisfies all of the
following:
(a) It is at least 11 inches by 14 inches.
(b) It is on a poster, in a framed document, or inscribed on a wall.
(c) The national motto is in English and is in a legible font.
(d) If the building, structure, or facility is open to the public, the display is in
a location that is visible to the visiting public. If the building, structure, or facility
is not open to the public, the display is posted in a location where notices to
employees are customarily posted.
SECTION 3. 118.06 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
118.06 (title) Flag, pledge of allegiance, national motto, and national
anthem.
SECTION 4. 118.06 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
118.06 (3) (a) Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, each school board and
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SECTION 4
governing board of a charter school shall cause the national motto, XIn God We
TrustY, to be displayed in each classroom of each school under its control. Except as
provided in par. (b), the school board or governing board shall determine the nature
of the display.
(b) A school board or governing board of a charter school shall ensure that a
display of the national motto under par. (a) satisfies all of the following:
1. It is at least 11 inches by 14 inches.
2. It is on a poster, in a framed document, or inscribed on a wall.
3. The national motto is in English and is in a legible font.
(END)
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