109th District Republican State Representative Adam Niemerg has had his first piece of legislation passed out of committee in Springfield. His House Bill 217 would allow local school districts across the state to decide if they would like to put the words “In God We Trust” on their buildings. The phrase is the official motto of the United States of America. Neimerg emphasized that the bill does not mandate schools to display the phrase and leaves the decision to school boards. It now goes to the full House for consideration.