WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2025 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
Senate Bill 280
By Senator Azinger
[Introduced February 12, 2025; referredto the Committee on Education]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated ยง18-36-1, relating to the display of the official motto of the United States in public elementary and secondary schools and in institutions of higher education.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
## article 36. display of national motto.
(a) A public elementary or secondary school or a state institution of higher education shall display in a conspicuous place in each building of the school or institution a durable poster or framed copy of the United States national motto, "In God We Trust", if the poster or framed copy meets the requirements of subsection (b) of this section and is:
(1) Donated for display at the school or institution; or
(2) Purchased from private donations and made available to the school or institution.
(b) A poster or framed copy of the national motto described in subsection (a) of this section:
(1) Shall contain a representation of the United States flag centered under the national motto and a representation of the state flag; and
(2) May not depict any words, images, or other information other than the representations listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection.
(c) A public elementary or secondary school and an institution of higher education may accept and use private donations for the purposes of subsection (a) of this section.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require "In God We Trust" signs be displayed in public schools.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.