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Bill

SB 407

Revise education laws to prohibit certain flags and banners in school and require phrase "In God we trust" displayed in each classroom of a public school

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bob Phalen

Montana bill would mandate "In God We Trust" displays in classrooms while banning certain flags; died in committee without passage.

(S) Died in Process
#stategovernment #education-k-12
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Bill Summary · SB 407

Legislative bill overview

SB 407 would prohibit certain flags and banners in Montana public school classrooms while mandating the display of "In God We Trust" in each classroom. The bill died in the legislative process after being tabled in committee and missing the deadline for general bill transmittal in 2025.

Why is this important

This bill represents ongoing disputes over religious expression and symbolic speech in public schools—issues that directly affect daily school operations and raise constitutional questions. The outcome reflects broader national debates about separating religious expression from publicly-funded institutions versus protecting religious speech rights.

Potential points of contention

  • Establishment Clause concerns: Mandating religious phrases in public classrooms may violate the First Amendment's prohibition on government-established religion, though "In God We Trust" is the national motto
  • Vagueness of "certain flags": The bill's reference to prohibited flags lacks specificity, making enforcement unclear and potentially capturing unintended symbols
  • Viewpoint discrimination: Selectively displaying one religious phrase while restricting other symbolic speech could constitute government favoring particular viewpoints over others

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

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