The state House of Representatives voted to require students 17 and younger to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
The bill passed on a party-line vote.
Existing law spells out that schools must set aside time each day for students who wish to recite, but the new bill adds language saying each student “shall” say the pledge.
Democratic Rep. Jennifer Pawlik joined others in her party opposing the measure, quoting a Supreme Court Ruling.
"The quote is, 'if there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein," she said.
That is a quote of Justice Robert Jackson.
Parents can request for their children to be exempt. Private, parochial and home-schools are also excluded.
