Public schools in Louisiana are now 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.

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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.”

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