Bill requiring ‘In God We Trust’ poster in public schools, universities passes House

The House of Delegates approved a Senate Bill 152 mandating that West Virginia's public schools and higher education institutions display “In God We Trust." (Getty Images)

The House of Delegates on Friday approved a bill mandating that West Virginia’s public schools and higher education institutions display the national motto — “In God We Trust” — in their main buildings.

Senators previously signed off on the legislation, Senate Bill 152 , which was sponsored by Sen. Robert Azinger, R-Wood.

The House passed it with a 86-10 vote. Democrats voted against the measure with the exception of Del. Ric Griffith, D-Wayne.

The bill doesn’t come with funding, though schools can accept donations for the displays. Del. Tom Fast, R-Fayette, said that students could create displays.

On Friday, Del. Larry L. Rowe, D-Kanawha, questioned if any courts had ruled on the constitutionality of the display, particularly in elementary schools.

Fast responded, “This is our national motto, ‘In God We Trust,’ and it has been litigated, and it has been upheld. We can display our national motto in public schools and in our higher education institutions.”

The motto would be required to be displayed on a poster or framed copy that is 8.5×11 inches and contains a representation of the United States flag.

It would have to be placed “in a conspicuous place in the main building of the school” — a change from a previous version of the bill that would have required it to be displayed in every school classroom.

Del. John Williams, D-Monongalia, unsuccessfully tried to amend the legislation on Thursday to require that schools also display West Virginia’s state motto, Montani Semper Liberi (mountaineers are always free).

“ We don’t have that much of a problem with our kids leaving the United States of America, but we do have a problem with them leaving West Virginia in droves,” he said. “I’m as proud to be a West Virginian as I am American.”

It was rejected with a 23-68 vote .

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