Burley Garcia-Louisiana law requiring 'In God We Trust' to be displayed in classrooms goes into effect.

2025-05-06 14:32:25source:TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Centercategory:Contact

Public schools in Louisiana are Burley Garcianow required to display the motto "In God We Trust" in all classrooms.

The law, known as HB8, was signed by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards in June. The law went into effect on Aug. 1 and was authored by Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton.

Each classroom is required to have the motto at minimum "displayed on a poster or framed document that is at least eleven inches by fourteen inches. The motto shall be the central focus of the poster or framed document and shall be printed in a large, easily readable font," according to HB8 Act 264 bill documents.

More:Top Louisiana children's heart doctor leaving state because of anti-LGBTQ bills

Elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools will all be required to have the motto in each classroom.

Additionally, the law states that it "does not require a public school governing authority to spend its funds to purchase national motto displays. A governing authority may spend its funds or donated funds to purchase the displays and may accept donated displays."

"In God We Trust" has been the national motto of the U.S. since 1956 when the 84th Congress passed a joint resolution without debate, and it was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Motto display was previously required in school buildings

Previously, a 2018 law was in place requiring each Louisiana school to have "In God We Trust" displayed somewhere in the building.

The author of the 2018 bill, Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, told the USA TODAY Network in May 2018 that they were “not pushing God on anybody. We’re incorporating it as part of the history of our nation."

"It’s our national motto, for goodness sake,” Barrow said at the time. “If it’s good enough to be on our money, it’s good enough to be in our schools.”

More on Louisiana:Louisiana bans gender affirming healthcare for minors, overturning Democrat governor veto

More:Contact

Recommend

Tropical rains flood homes in an inland Georgia neighborhood for the second time since 2016

POOLER, Ga. (AP) — The water began seeping into Keon Johnson’s house late Monday night after Tropica

Massachusetts man shot dead after crashing truck, approaching officer with knife

FRYEBURG, Maine (AP) — A Massachusetts motorist who led police on a chase in two states was fatally

Man accused of beheading his father, police investigating video allegedly showing him with the head

LEVITTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A man in Pennsylvania has been charged with first-degree murder and abusing a