Texas advances Ten Commandments school mandate amid constitutionality row

• Texas House passes bill requiring Ten Commandments posters in every public classroom, largely along party lines.
• The bill allows state funds to defend legal challenges, which are anticipated by secular groups.
• Similar laws in Louisiana and Arkansas face court blocks, complicating the path for Texas’s law.
• Supporters cite historical significance; opponents argue it violates separation of church and state.
• Gov. Abbott is expected to sign the bill, but its implementation hinges on legal battles.

Texas lawmakers cleared a crucial hurdle this weekend for legislation mandating displays of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom, advancing the Republican-backed proposal despite fierce opposition from Democratic representatives and secular groups. The bill, which now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for his expected signature, reignites a decades-old debate over whether religious texts belong in state-funded education.

On Saturday, the Texas House passed Senate Bill 10 by a 88-49 vote, with final tweaks to clarify that the state — not individual schools — would defend legal challenges to the mandate. The bill requires districts to post a framed or poster copy of the English-language Ten Commandments aside foundational documents like the Declaration of Independence or Bill of Rights. Opponents, including civil rights advocates, argue the move violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, fostering inequality for non-Christians.

Legislative approval reflects traditionalist priorities

The bill’s architects frame it as a bid to restore moral clarity to education. Co-sponsor Rep. Candy Noble argued, “The Ten Commandments are foundational to our nation’s ethical and legal framework,” while Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick praised the measure as a return to “the moral compass of our forefathers.” The legislation faced Democratic efforts to amend it to include other religious texts or allow schools to opt out, but all were struck down.

Key amendments added during last-minute debate shifted liability for lawsuits to the state, addressing concerns over forcing underfunded school districts to battle costly legal battles alone. The move underscores backers’ confidence in the law’s constitutionality, despite recent rulings — like a federal judge’s 2024 suspension of Louisiana’s similar law — that found such displays unconstitutional “on their face.”

Legal fallout echoes historical precedents

The Texas endeavor mirrors battles over religious displays in schools for decades. In 1980, the Supreme Court struck down a Kentucky law requiring classrooms to display the Commandments, ruling it served a religious purpose. More recently, North Carolina courts have permitted displays framed as historical artifacts, even as other states face setbacks.

Legal experts anticipate a protracted showdown. “Texas is banking on recent shifts in judicial conservatism,” said Prof. Ira C. Lupu of George Washington University, noting that the current Supreme Court may view such displays as cultural touchstones rather than religious endorsements. However, plaintiffs like the American Civil Liberties Union insist the law crosses the Establishment Clause line, arguing it coerces public support for one faith over others.

A national trend, facing local resistance

Texas’s bill is part of a broader wave of state initiatives pushing religion into public schools. Over the past two years, Louisiana and Arkansas passed similar laws, while Oklahoma defied district resistance to mandate Bible distribution. However, only Texas thus far seeks to pair the Ten Commandments exclusively in classrooms.

Critics, including the Texas Freedom Network, argue the law fosters exclusion. “For non-Christian students, these posters institutionalize a sectarian hierarchy,” said spokesperson Emily Witt. Meanwhile, some lawmakers, like Rep. James Talarico (D), highlighted the irony of approving SB10 over weekends traditionally reserved for legislative recesses — calling it a “violation of the Sabbath day we’re so eager to honor.”

As governor’s signature nears, uncertainty lingers

With Abbott signaling support, Texas’s debate will shift to federal courts. If upheld, the law could embolden states yet to act, but its fate hinges not only on law but also public perception. With school districts nationwide under pressure to address social divides, the commandments’ presence in classrooms may become a flashpoint in debates over how — or whether — religion shapes public education.

“This isn’t about faith,” Rep. Noble countered. “It’s about grounding our children in the universal truths this nation was built on.” For opponents, the law’s defense hinges on the easier question: how far tradition can tread on modern secularism.

As July’s start-of-school deadlines approach, classrooms statewide brace for a school year unlike any before — and a legal fight that could forever reshape the meaning of “public” in public education.

Sources for this article include:

Newsweek.com

NBCNews.com

USAToday.com