By: Hughes	S.B. No. 797
	(In the Senate - Filed February 24, 2021; March 11, 2021,
	read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
	April 9, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
	Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 9, 2021,
	sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 797	By:  Nelson

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the display of the national motto in public schools and
	institutions of higher education.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 1.004, Education Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 1.004.  DISPLAY OF NATIONAL MOTTO.  (a) A public
	elementary or secondary school or an institution of higher
	education as defined by Section 61.003 must [may] display in a
	conspicuous place in each building of the school or institution a
	durable poster or framed copy of the United States national motto,
	"In God We Trust," if the poster or framed copy meets the
	requirements of Subsection (b) and is:
	(1)  donated for display at the school or institution;
	or
	(2)  purchased from private donations and made
	available to the school or institution [in each classroom,
	auditorium, and cafeteria].
	(b)  A poster or framed copy of the national motto described
	by Subsection (a):
	(1)  must contain a representation of the United States
	flag centered under the national motto and a representation of the
	state flag; and
	(2)  may not depict any words, images, or other
	information other than the representations listed in Subdivision
	(1).
	(c)  A public elementary or secondary school and an
	institution of higher education may accept and use private
	donations for the purposes of Subsection (a).
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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