House Bill 16 would require the Legislative Services Officer to place the national motto, “In God We Trust,” directly above and behind the dais of the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate in the North Carolina General Assembly. The display must be consistent with the patriotic display of the motto used above the Speaker’s dais in the U.S. House of Representatives, indicating the bill is intended to mirror a federal legislative display.
The bill also sets out how the installation is to be funded. It directs the Legislative Services Officer to first use any private gifts or other donated funds provided for that purpose, and if those funds are treated as unappropriated, they are deemed appropriated for the project. If no donated funds are received within 90 days after the act becomes effective, the officer may use available state funds to cover implementation costs. The act would take effect July 1, 2025, and it amends state law governing the General Assembly’s administrative operations.
Impact
The bill would amend G.S. 120-32.1 by adding a new requirement for the Legislative Services Officer to install and maintain a specific display of the national motto in both chambers’ leadership areas. It would create a new administrative obligation for the General Assembly and establish a funding hierarchy that prioritizes private donations before use of state funds, with an express appropriation mechanism if donated money is treated as unappropriated. The practical effect is limited to the physical appearance and funding of the legislative chambers, rather than changing substantive rights or duties of the public.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill had generally favorable support in the House, passing second reading by a wide margin of 100 yeas to 17 nays. No committee transcripts are available, so there is no recorded debate to indicate detailed arguments for or against the measure. The vote pattern indicates broad approval, though not unanimous, consistent with a measure that is politically and symbolically significant but not operationally complex.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the symbolic use of a religious phrase in a government setting, with supporters viewing it as a patriotic acknowledgment of the national motto and opponents likely concerned about church-state separation, government endorsement of religion, or the appropriateness of religious messaging in the legislative chamber. A secondary issue is the funding mechanism, which attempts to rely on private donations first but allows state funds if donations are not secured, potentially raising questions about public spending for a symbolic display. The 17 no votes suggest some opposition remained, even though the bill advanced comfortably.