Louisiana public schools are now required to display the nation's motto, "In God We Trust," in each classroom under a new law.
The law, H.B. 8, went into effect on Tuesday.
The law states that "the national motto shall be 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."
Public schools will not be required to spend their 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," the law states.
Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards signed the bill into law in June.
The previous version of this legislation, which was passed in 2018, required each school building to have the motto displayed — but not each classroom.
"In God We Trust" became the official motto of the United States in 1956 through a resolution passed by the 84th Congress. It was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Republican Haughton state Rep. Dodie Horton, who introduced the bill, told Louisiana's Daily Advertiser that displaying the national motto "sends an important message to our children as a sign of hope."
Rep. Horton said that she introduced the bill because the 2018 law did not go far enough.
"The signs are up usually near the office, but I've asked my grandkids if they've ever seen it and they said no," Horton said. "But they will see these in their classrooms."
When asked about concerns about "separation of church and state," Rep. Horton said that a Buddhist called her office to complain — but that "It's our national motto; it's on our money."
"I'm not asking you to accept my God or pushing religion on anyone," she said. "I just want children to see that there is a creator. I don't see it as a controversial bill."
Democrat State Sen. Regina Barrow, who introduced the 2018 legislation, had similar reasoning.
"We're not pushing God on anybody; we're incorporating it as part of the history of our nation," Barrow said in an interview with USA Today at the time. "It's our national motto, for goodness sake. If it's good enough to be on our money, it's good enough to be in our schools."
