Texas lawmakers have passed a bill requiring Ten Commandments displays in all public school classrooms, setting the stage for what may become a constitutional showdown over religious expression in schools.

At a Glance

• The Texas House passed Senate Bill 10 requiring 16×20-inch Ten Commandments posters in all public school classrooms
• The legislation specifies using the King James Bible version, matching a monument at the Texas State Capitol
• The bill passed despite a similar Louisiana law being struck down by a federal court
• Texas will cover legal fees for anticipated lawsuits challenging the law’s constitutionality
• The bill must return to the Senate before going to Governor Greg Abbott for final approval

Restoring Traditional Values in Education

Texas has positioned itself at the forefront of a nationwide movement to return biblical principles to public education with the passage of Senate Bill 10. The legislation, which passed the Texas House with votes of 88-49 on Saturday and 82-46 on Sunday, mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom throughout the state. The bill specifically requires 16 by 20-inch posters displaying the commandments from the King James Bible version, matching the monument that stands outside the Texas State Capitol. No additional text or similar posters would be allowed alongside the display.

This legislation represents part of a broader effort across the country, with Texas joining 15 other states pursuing similar measures. The bill’s author, Republican Representative Candy Noble, has championed the display as a crucial step in addressing moral decline in schools and society. During floor debate, Noble defended the bill’s moral and historical significance in American education.

However, advocates have raised concern about the separations of church and state in schools. Lawmakers this session have introduced other bills that would mandate the Ten Commandments in classrooms and allow in-school prayer. https://t.co/wGUbsIWwAQ

— Keri Heath (@HeathKeri) March 27, 2025

Legal Challenges Expected

The Texas legislature moved forward with the bill despite a federal court ruling against a nearly identical law in Louisiana. Anticipating legal challenges, lawmakers included provisions for the state to cover legal fees for any school districts sued over implementing the mandate. Legal experts point to the 1980 Supreme Court decision in Stone v. Graham, which struck down a Kentucky law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms as a violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.

Some Republican lawmakers believe the Supreme Court’s 2022 Kennedy v. Bremerton School District decision, which supported a public school coach’s right to pray on the field, may have changed the legal landscape regarding religious expression in schools. The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is currently scheduled to hear a challenge to the similar Louisiana law, potentially setting up a new Supreme Court test case on religious displays in public education.

Building on Previous Religious Expression Legislation

Senate Bill 10 follows other recent Texas laws affirming religious expression in schools. The state previously passed legislation requiring schools to display “In God We Trust” signs if donated. Lawmakers have also advanced bills establishing religious study periods and directing schools to use traditional “Anno Domini” (AD) and “Before Christ” (BC) date notations rather than the secular “Common Era” alternatives. These initiatives reflect growing support among many Texans for reconnecting public education with the nation’s religious heritage.

Democrats attempted to amend the bill to include other religious texts, but these proposals were defeated. Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about promoting one religious tradition over others in diverse classrooms. The bill must now return to the Senate for final approval of House amendments before going to Governor Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it into law. If enacted, Texas schools would join a growing number of institutions reaffirming traditional moral teachings in educational settings across the nation.