A.G. Gancarski
A bill placing “In God We Trust” language on school campuses is heading to the House floor.
The Education and Employment Committee advanced the bill (HB 1009). If it passes, the slogan must be in “clearly visible location and public area of the school which is readily accessible to and widely used by students and in a clearly visible location and public area of each building used by the district school board.”
Rep. Kim Daniels, a Democratic preacher from Jacksonville who has championed the display of Florida’s theistic state motto, noted that it’s on our “flag and our money” during her presentation of the bill.
Democratic Rep. Yvonne Hinson cautioned that in some school districts, people don’t believe in God or believe in other Gods.
Daniels countered that the bill isn’t about “religion,” but about people “knowing their rights.”
Republican Rep. Kiyan Michael, also from Duval County, lauded Daniels’ “strength and courage for bringing the bill forward.”
The bill also compels the Florida Department of Education to “assure” people that laws protecting voluntary religious expression in schools exist.
Kathleen Murray, state education director of Citizens Defending Freedom, lauded the bill’s defense of “foundational rights.”
“Religious freedom belongs in the public square, and that includes the classroom,” she added.
Christian Family Coalition of Florida and Moms for Liberty like the legislation. The Florida Policy Institute and the American Civil Liberties Union oppose the bill.
The companion bill did not get a Senate committee hearing, narrowing its path, but the House is moving it ahead.
10 comments
Bill Pollard
April 17, 2025 at 12:56 pm
We should have freedom to believe in whatever religion we want or in no religion at all. Our country becomes more cosmopolitan constantly. While most of us are Christians, not everyone is.
Foghorn Leghorn
April 17, 2025 at 1:10 pm
So we should remove it from our currency then?
Janice Evans
April 17, 2025 at 4:34 pm
I ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ɪ’ᴅ ʙᴇ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ɪᴛ ʙᴜᴛ ᴍʏ ʙᴜᴅᴅʏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ᴏᴠᴇʀ $13,453 ᴀ ᴍᴏɴᴛʜ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪs ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴠɪɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʀʏ. sᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴀsʜ ɪɴ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ʙʏ
Go ON my ProFILE
Michael K
April 17, 2025 at 9:05 pm
Yea we should remove itt. It was added in 1957 at the height of Cold War McCarthy era anti-communism far right hysteria. It is not a US Constitutional or founders phrase.
ScienceBLVR
April 17, 2025 at 2:04 pm
Any reference posted to GOD, Allah, Buddha, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or whoever is crossing the Congress shall be prohibited from establishing a religion Constitutional line/ and if it passes, cue the lengthy court battles costing taxpayer dollars. And It shouldn’t be on our money or our pledge to our country, either. Don’t have to ascribe to the delusion of organized religion in our schools or our government. Oh yeah, let’s hear the useful prayers to GOD for FSU kids…
White Supremacy Devil Trump
April 17, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Same people that support this are the same people that worship at the altar of their White Supremacy Devil Trump,
Foghorn Leghorn
April 17, 2025 at 2:57 pm
Is “In God We Trust” printed on your EBT card?
MH/Duuuval
April 17, 2025 at 7:08 pm
“On July 30, 1956, the 84th Congress passed a joint resolution “declaring ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’ the national motto of the United States.” The resolution passed without debate. It replaced E pluribus unum, which had existed before as a de facto official motto.” (Wiki)
I like e pluribus unum better because it recognizes no religion, which the Cons supposed to protect.
Michael K
April 17, 2025 at 4:19 pm
I’d rather we keep anyone’s religious beliefs out of our schools and civic square. Our founders went out of their way to ensure freedom OF religion, and freedom FROM religion. We see what happens to nations that become theocracies. Project 2025 makes no secret that it wants to build the US around White “Christian” Nationalism. Americans of good conscience – and of good faith – should just say no.
Skeptic
April 17, 2025 at 6:15 pm
I think it is a great thing. This should be the last thing a child sees before losing his or her life in a school shooting. I trust God to make life better much more than the President, Congress, Supreme Court, Governor or Florida Legislature. Anyone disagree?