Texas Law Mandating Ten Commandments in Classrooms Faces Multiple Lawsuits

Austin, Texas – A new Texas law, Senate Bill 10, requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, has ignited significant controversy and prompted multiple legal challenges. The legislation, signed by Governor Greg Abbott, mandates that schools prominently feature a specific version of the biblical text, drawing immediate condemnation from civil liberties and religious freedom advocates. This development underscores a national debate over the separation of church and state in public education, as highlighted by individuals like venture capitalist Sheel Mohnot, who stated in a recent tweet, "> Some friends that moved to Texas & Florida because Cali is too woke (which is def is) found that they traded one religion for another. Texas requires classrooms to display the 10 commandments. Not a big deal by itself but emblematic of a problem imo."

Senate Bill 10 stipulates that each public elementary and secondary classroom must display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments, measuring at least 16 by 20 inches, in a conspicuous place. The law specifies the exact text to be used, which aligns most closely with the Protestant faith, and allows schools to accept privately donated posters or use district funds for compliance. Frisco ISD, for instance, has already purchased thousands of posters, while nonprofit organizations like Texas Values are coordinating donations to ensure widespread distribution across the state.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas, along with Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, have filed lawsuits challenging the law's constitutionality. They argue that SB 10 violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause by imposing state-sponsored religious messages on a captive audience of students, thereby interfering with families' rights to direct their children's religious education. Opponents cite the 1980 Supreme Court ruling in Stone v. Graham, which found a similar Kentucky law unconstitutional.

Supporters of the law, including Senator Phil King and Representative Candy Noble, contend that the Ten Commandments are foundational to the nation's legal and educational systems, serving as a source of moral clarity. They express optimism that the current Supreme Court, which has shifted away from the Lemon test used in Stone v. Graham and ruled favorably in cases like Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, might uphold the Texas statute. However, legal scholars note that allowing private prayer differs significantly from state-mandated religious displays.

The Texas law follows similar legislative efforts in Louisiana and Arkansas, both of which have faced legal hurdles; a federal appeals court recently blocked Louisiana's comparable mandate. Critics, including various faith leaders and educators, warn that the law could alienate students of diverse religious backgrounds or no religion, effectively turning public schools into venues for religious instruction. As the legal battles unfold, the outcome in Texas is expected to have significant implications for the ongoing national discussion on religion's role in public institutions.