Texas lawmakers move forward with a bill requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom, setting the stage for a potential legal showdown over religious freedom.

At a Glance

• Texas House gives preliminary approval with an 88-49 vote for mandatory Ten Commandments displays in classrooms
• Final Senate vote scheduled for Sunday before sending to Gov. Greg Abbott, who supports the measure
• Bill requires specific English translation displayed in 16×20 inch format
• Similar laws in Louisiana and Arkansas have faced constitutional challenges
• Texas also passed a measure for voluntary prayer or religious text reading during school hours

Texas House Advances Ten Commandments Bill

The Texas House of Representatives has given preliminary approval to legislation that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom across the state. The Republican-backed bill passed with an 88-49 vote, largely along party lines, and now awaits a final Senate vote scheduled for Sunday. If passed, the measure will head to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk, who has already expressed his support for signing it into law. The bill specifies that the commandments must be displayed in a 16-inch-by-20-inch format using a particular English translation.

The legislation comes amid a growing national debate about religious expression in public schools. State Representative Candy Noble, a co-sponsor of the bill, defended the measure by emphasizing its historical and educational significance rather than its religious nature. Democratic lawmakers attempted to amend the bill to include other religious texts or translations, but these efforts were unsuccessful as the Republican majority held firm to the original proposal.

A controversial bill that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every Texas public school classroom is moving through the final stages of the legislative process.
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Historical Significance vs. Constitutional Concerns

Supporters of the Ten Commandments bill argue that the biblical principles represented in the commandments are foundational to America’s judicial and educational systems. They maintain that displaying the commandments in classrooms serves an important historical purpose rather than a purely religious one. The bill’s backers point to the influence of Judeo-Christian values on early American law and governance as justification for bringing these principles into the classroom environment.

“The focus of this bill is to look at what is historically important to our nation educationally and judicially”, said State Rep. Candy Noble.

Critics argue that the requirement violates the constitutional separation of church and state by imposing a specific religious text in public education settings. They contend that mandating the display of the Ten Commandments creates an environment that could pressure students into religious observance or make non-Christian students feel marginalized. The debate reflects broader tensions between religious expression and secular governance that have characterized American politics since the nation’s founding.

Legal Challenges Loom

The Texas bill faces potential legal hurdles based on precedents set in other states. In Louisiana, a federal judge recently ruled that a similar law requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional. Arkansas has also encountered legal challenges to comparable legislation. These cases suggest that the Texas law, if enacted, will likely face immediate court challenges from civil liberties organizations concerned about First Amendment violations.

The Texas Legislature has also passed a related measure establishing a voluntary period for prayer or religious text reading during school hours. This broader push for religious expression in schools represents a significant policy shift in Texas education. Supporters view these measures as reclaiming traditional values in public education, while opponents see them as undermining constitutional protections for religious freedom and potentially creating divisive environments in diverse school communities.