The law requires classrooms to display a poster of the commandments that can be read from anywhere in the classroom.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Saturday that he signed a bill into law, that would require all public school classrooms in his state to display the Ten Commandments. The law takes effect on Sept. 1.
The law requires classrooms to display a poster or framed English translation of the commandments that is at least 16-by-20 inches and able to be read from anywhere in the classroom.
Texas has around 5.5 million students who attend its 9,100 public schools.
Supporters of the Texas legislation say the Ten Commandments are part of the foundation of the United States’ judicial and educational systems and should be displayed.
“The focus of this bill is to look at what is historically important to our nation educationally and judicially,” said Texas state Rep. Candy Noble, a Republican and co-sponsor of the bill, after it passed the House.
Opponents, including some Christian and other faith leaders, say the Ten Commandments and prayer measures infringe on others’ religious freedom.
The bill, SB 10, was among 300 that reached Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for his approval late last week.
Louisiana became the first state in recent decades to pass the requirement into law in June 2024. However, its law remains blocked after a federal appeals court ruled it to be unconstitutional on June 20.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has said her office is prepared to pursue the matter all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court amid the legal challenges.
The ACLU has already said it will challenge the law passed in Texas. It cited U.S. Supreme Court precedent by the Stone v. Graham ruling that has yet to be challenged in the 6–3 conservative-leaning court of 2025.
In that 5–4 ruling in 1980, the Supreme Court held that a Kentucky statute mandating the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms was unconstitutional because it lacked a secular legislative purpose, violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
By Melanie Sun
