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Gov. Patrick Morrisey speaks at a news conference Monday announcing the state received 2,500 donated signs reading “In God We Trust” for schools. (Amelia Ferrell Knisely | West Virginia Watch)
West Virginia has officially received 2,500 donated signs reading “In God We Trust” for schools to hang up in order to meet requirements set in a new law passed during the 2025 regular session.
Senate Bill 280 required all public primary and secondary schools, as well as institutions of higher education, to display the United States motto in a “conspicuous location” in a main building of the school that is accessible to the public.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood, and became law this year after being introduced in the Legislature but failing to pass for several years previously. Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, celebrated the law’s passage at a bill signing in April. The law went into effect on July 11.
SB 280 did not include any mechanism to fund purchasing the motto displays.
Azinger said at a news conference Monday that some schools have already displayed the motto by making their own posters or accepting private donations. Per state code, the displays must be at least 8.5 by 11 inches and include the U.S. flag centered under “In God We Trust.” No other information shall be on the posters.
The donated signs — which come from Patriot Mobile, a self-described “Christian conservative wireless provider,” and First Liberty Institute, a legal organization defending “religious freedom” — will now be sent out to school districts to be hung up.
Monday’s news conference included remarks from Morrisey, who said the posters are critical for students to “understand the importance of basic civics and ensuring we’re recognizing our God in schools.”
“Religious freedom must and will be respected in West Virginia,” Morrisey said. “Thank you and God bless.”
Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston, said he is a “firm believer that society started going downhill when we took God out of our schools.”
“I think we have statistics to show that,” Smith said.
He did not share what statistics he was referencing.
Other speakers Monday included state lawmakers and national conservative Christian advocates.
Andrea Justus, with First Liberty, urged lawmakers in West Virginia to next pass a law to display the Ten Commandments in schools as well as at the state Capitol.
“First Liberty can help with best-practice language there,” Justus said as she winked toward lawmakers standing nearby. “We’d love to see the Ten Commandments displayed in every classroom in West Virginia.”
Bills to do such in public schools have been introduced in West Virginia over the last several years, however they’ve never made it out of the committee process.
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