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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 53

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: requiring the display of the national motto in public schools and on public buildings. (FE)

Public building School — Building School — Charter school Symbols national

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Senate, not reached
  3. Passes Assembly, not reached
  4. Governor signs, not reached
  5. Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires, within 6 months of the effective date of the bill, that each public building in this state display the national motto, “In God We Trust,” in a location that is visible to the public if the building is open to the public, and in a location where notices for employees are regularly posted if it is a building that is not open to the public.

Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the bill also requires that the national motto, “In God We Trust,” be displayed in each public school classroom, including charter school classrooms. Under current law, each school board and governing body of a private school must display the U.S. flag in the schoolroom or from a flagstaff on the school grounds during the school hours of each school day.

Under the bill, the required displays in both public buildings and public schools must 1) be at least 11 inches by 14 inches, 2) be on a poster, in a framed document, or inscribed on a wall, and 3) be presented in English in a legible font.

What it would cost

Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs

Sponsors

Introduced by: Nass (R) , Tomczyk (R)

11 cosponsors

Behnke (R) , Brill (R) , Goeben (R) , Gundrum (R) , Gustafson (R) , Knodl (R) , Kreibich (R) , Murphy (R) , Tittl (R) , Tusler (R) , Wichgers (R)

Registered lobbying interests · 2

Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record

Full history

  1. Feb 21, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Tomczyk and Nass; cosponsored by Representatives Goeben, Gustafson, Behnke, Brill, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, Tittl, Tusler and Wichgers

  2. Feb 21, 2025 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs

  3. Feb 26, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1