WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2024 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4846

By Delegates Hillenbrand, Thorne, Ridenour, Adkins, Phillips, Kimble, Kump, Burkhammer, Clark, Chiarelli, and Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker)

[Introduced January 17, 2024; Referred
to the Committee on Education then Judiciary ]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-34-1, 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 34. display of national motto.

§18-34-1. Display of the National Motto in schools and state institutions of higher education.

(a) A public elementary or secondary school or a state institution of higher education must 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) Must 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 display the official motto of the United States of America in public elementary and secondary schools and in institutions of higher education.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.