Texas Governor Officially Signs Law Requiring Ten Commandments in Every Public Classroom

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has officially signed into law a bill requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in every public classroom in the state.

The measure, Senate Bill 10, passed with overwhelming support in the Texas Senate, 28-3, and now mandates that all public school classrooms display a “durable poster or framed copy” of the Christian Ten Commandments. These displays must be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall and easily legible from anywhere in the room.

“The Ten Commandments are part of American heritage and remind students of the principles that form the foundation of our legal system,” supporters argue. However, opponents raised concerns about religious freedom and government overreach. Efforts to allow school boards discretion or include other ethical teachings from different faiths were rejected in the House.

Texas isn’t alone in pushing this agenda. Louisiana passed a similar bill earlier this year, but that law was struck down as unconstitutional. On Friday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision, citing First Amendment violations. The ruling is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court, setting the stage for a legal battle that could soon include Texas’ new law.

This law is one of 334 bills signed by Abbott over the weekend. Other legislation includes expanding rural healthcare, mandatory financial literacy courses for high schoolers, and new protections for Texas land ownership and grid security. Senate Bill 11 also allows schools to implement voluntary prayer and scripture reading during the day.