Some Texas schools would be required to hang "In God We Trust" signs under measure nearing passage by lawmakers

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The Texas Legislature is on the verge of approving a new law that would require some public schools and universities to display the phrase “In God We Trust” in prominent places inside all campus buildings.

Under Senate Bill 797, authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, any school that had a poster or framed copy of the phrase, which is the official national motto, donated to it would be required to hang it in “a conspicuous place in each building of the school.”

SB 797 has already passed the Texas Senate. The House gave preliminary approval for the bill Monday, passing it on a voice vote. An attempt to amend the bill to restrict the size of displays to just over 1 square foot failed. The bill is expected to get final approval Tuesday and, because no amendments were added to the bill on the House floor, head to Gov. Greg Abbott.

The bill sets specific rules about the display of the phrase, saying the poster or frame “must contain a representation of the United States flag centered under the national motto and a representation of the state flag.” It also says the display cannot contain any other words, images or information.

The measure is in line with several that have progressed through the Capitol this year pertaining to education or patriotism. Lawmakers are also nearing passage of a bill that would ban teaching — or accepting donated materials pertaining to — critical race theory in public and open-enrollment charter schools. Other measures advancing in the final days of the session would require schools to teach “informed American patriotism” and require any professional sports teams with contracts with the state government to play the national anthem before the start of a game.

Rep. Tom Oliverson laid out the “In God We Trust” bill at a House Public Education Committee hearing early this month, saying the bill would avoid creating “conversation” for school superintendents if they wanted to put up a sign with the phrase. He said they could defer the action to state law.

“It actually makes the conversation simpler, easier for a school district to be able to do, as opposed to just sort of the current statute, which is they can put it up if they want to,” Oliverson, R-Cypress, said. “But then there's a whole conversation that ensues.”

While representatives for the Texas Faith & Freedom Coalition and the Republican Party of Texas registered and testified in support of the bill, representatives from the League of Women Voters of Texas and Texas Impact registered their opposition.

Karen Brooks Harper contributed to this story.