Elementary-school classrooms throughout Florida would be required to display portraits of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, under a bill filed Thursday.

The “patriotic displays” proposal (SB 420 and HB 371) also would require portraits of the two presidents to be located in a “conspicuous place” in classrooms “primarily used for social studies instruction” in grades 6-12.

Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, and Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, sponsored the measure for consideration during the legislative session that begins Jan. 13.

The proposal would require the Department of Education to select the depictions of the presidents and distribute them to school districts.

The portraits would be part of a state “patriotic program” law requiring the motto “In God We Trust” to be

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