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HB 5619

Display of National motto and Ten Commandments

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Elías Coop-González

HB 5619 would require prominent display of the national motto, the POW-MIA flag, and the Ten Commandments on certain public properties, contingent on available funds or donations.

To House Judiciary
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Bill Summary · HB 5619

Summary of Bill HB 5619 (2026) – West Virginia

What the bill does

HB 5619 would require the governing authority of public property and buildings that are designed, constructed, and maintained with public funds (from the state, a county, or a municipality) to prominently display:
- The national motto: “In God We Trust”
- The POW-MIA flag, and
- A durable representation of the Ten Commandments

Display would occur “if funds are available in certain circumstances,” and may be financed with private donations or gifts.

Key provisions and changes

  1. National motto display (In God We Trust)

    • Public authorities may, and in some cases must, prominently display the motto on the property or building.
    • Display specifications:
      • Poster or framed display at least 11 inches by 14 inches
      • Central focus with large font
      • Must include an accurate representation of the United States flag (below the motto) and the West Virginia state flag
    • Funding: Costs may be paid with private donations, gifts, grants, or bequests.

  2. POW-MIA flag display

    • The POW-MIA flag may be displayed in the same manner as the motto and other flag displays.
    • Funding: Costs may be paid with private donations, gifts, grants, or bequests.

  3. Ten Commandments display

    • Public authorities may prominently display a durable poster or framed copy of a historical representation of the Ten Commandments, if funds are available.
    • Display specifications:
      • Text must be legible from any point in the room
      • Size at least 16 inches by 20 inches
      • The text of the Ten Commandments is provided in the bill (a full quoted text)
    • Required placements:
      • Public institutions of higher education, and public elementary/secondary school libraries and classrooms
      • Public buildings or facilities maintained or operated with taxpayer funds
    • Funding: Must be funded by donations or by public funds if allowed; or via private donations
    • Replacement: If a displayed copy/poster does not meet requirements, it may be replaced with a compliant version using public funds or private donation.

  4. Donation and disposition rules

    • Copies/posters that are donated or purchased under the Ten Commandments provision shall be donated to other eligible institutions if not needed locally.
    • If an institution has an extra copy, it must donate to another eligible institution.

  5. Guidance and administration

    • The Department of Administration would develop guidelines for displaying the motto and POW-MIA flag.

Who would be affected

  • Public authorities responsible for public property, buildings, and facilities funded or maintained with state, county, or municipal public funds.
  • Public higher education institutions and K-12 libraries and classrooms, as well as public buildings/facilities operated with taxpayer funds.
  • Entities receiving private donations or public funding for the displays (to fund installation and maintenance).

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Status: Introduced February 16, 2026; referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
  • Implementation timeline is tied to the availability of funds, and to the receipt of suitable donations or gifts, per subsections describing funding.
  • The Department of Administration would issue guidelines to govern display implementation.

Practical considerations

  • The bill frames displays as optional “shall, if funds are available” in several places, balancing display requirements with budget constraints.
  • The Ten Commandments display imposes specific size and legibility requirements and provides the exact text to be displayed.
  • The proposal would broaden the presence of religious and patriotic symbolism on public property, which may raise legal and constitutional questions in some contexts and could invite public debate.

Bottom line

HB 5619 would mandate or authorize the prominent display of the national motto, the POW-MIA flag, and the Ten Commandments on certain public properties and buildings, contingent on available funds or donations, with specific display standards and an administration-by-guideline framework.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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