Texas Bill Requiring Ten Commandments In Public School Classrooms Heads To Governor’s Desk

A bill mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in all Texas public school classrooms is one step away from becoming law after it cleared the state House of Representatives in a decisive vote on Sunday. The legislation, known as Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), passed the House 88-49 following a week of heated debate and rejected amendments from Democratic lawmakers, the Texas Tribune reported.

The bill, which previously passed the state Senate in March along party lines in a 20-11 vote, is now on its way to Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it into law, the Tribune reported. Abbott’s office has not issued a statement regarding the bill’s passage. (RELATED: ‘Tell Your Child Not To Look At It’: Red State Gov Defends Law Requiring Ten Commandments In Classroom)

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Texas is set to become the nation’s largest state to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms under a Republican-backed proposal that advanced to a key vote on Saturday.

— CBS 13 News (@WGME) May 25, 2025

Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a key proponent of SB 10, prioritized the legislation for this session, calling it a way to instill moral values in students. “By placing the Ten Commandments in our public school classrooms, we ensure our students receive the same foundational moral compass as our state and country’s forefathers,” Patrick said.

The bill requires all public elementary and secondary schools in Texas to “display in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments.” Each display must be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall and include the exact text of the commandments as laid out in the legislation. The law allows for schools to use privately donated displays or district funds and sets implementation for the 2025–26 school year.

Legal and constitutional challenges are expected. In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that classroom displays of the Ten Commandments were unconstitutional in Stone v. Graham, a decision likely to resurface in litigation. Louisiana, which enacted a similar law last year under Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, is currently facing a legal challenge from a coalition of multi-faith parents.

The Texas bill contains no enforcement provision, and it remains unclear how noncompliance by districts or individual educators will be handled. A committee analysis by the Texas House said that the bill “does not expressly create a criminal offense.”

Supporters of the bill say that the Ten Commandments are a part of American heritage.

“The Ten Commandments are part of our Texas and American story,” said State Sen. Phil King, the bill’s lead author.