Car owners could get "In God We Trust" stickers free of charge under a bill passed Tuesday by the state Senate, which adopted the measure after initial plans to make the motto mandatory on all Georgia license plates fell short in committee.
Motorists already can buy a sticker with the motto for $1. The sticker can be placed over the county name decal that Georgia license plates usually sport.
Sen. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, who sponsored Senate Bill 293, has said it was "unconscionable" for the state to profit from what he considered an expression of faith and respect.
According to the Georgia Department of Revenue, there were 339,186 “In God We Trust” stickers sold in 2011 at $1 each.
Heath originally proposed the motto would be the default on any license plates manufactured after July 1, but he dropped that mandate in committee to gain passage for his bill.
Heath's efforts follow a minor controversy last spring. The state was forced to redo a public contest to pick a new license plate design after the Revenue Department's website showed entries with the "In God We Trust" motto, without making clear it was not a permanent part of each design.
SB 293 passed on a 48-3 vote. It now goes to the House for consideration.
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