WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2023 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced Senate Bill 251
BY SENATORS AZINGER, ROBERTS, DEEDS, MAYNARD,
TRUMP, GRADY, AND STOVER
[Introduced January 17, 2023; referred to the Committee on Education]
 Intr SB 251
1 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article,
2 designated §18-34-1, relating to the display of the official motto of the United States in
3 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.
1 (a) A public elementary or secondary school or a state institution of higher education must
2 display in a conspicuous place in each building of the school or institution a durable poster or
3 framed copy of the United States national motto, "In God We Trust", if the poster or framed copy
4 meets the requirements of subsection (b) of this section and is:
5 (1) Donated for display at the school or institution; or
6 (2) Purchased from private donations and made available to the school or institution.
7 (b) A poster or framed copy of the national motto described in subsection (a) of this
8 section:
9 (1) Must contain a representation of the United States flag centered under the national
10 motto and a representation of the state flag; and
11 (2) May not depict any words, images, or other information other than the representations
12 listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection.
13 (c) A public elementary or secondary school and an institution of higher education may
14 accept and use private donations for the purposes of subsection (a) of this section.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-34-1