Ten Commandments Bill Clears Major Hurdle
Christian nationalism moves further into Texas public school classrooms
Over the weekend legislation mandating that the Ten Commandments be displayed prominently in all public school classrooms in Texas passed the Texas House. An amended version of the bill is expected to pass the Senate before it heads to the Governor’s desk.
The Ten Commandments bill, also known as Senate Bill 10, was one of the priorities Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced at the beginning of the year.
As the Texas House took up SB 10, State Rep. James Talarico noted the irony of doing so on Sunday (or the Sabbath for Christians). “You’re saying you’d rather tell people to follow the Ten Commandments then follow it yourself,” he said to a Republican advocating for the bill on the House floor.
In April, several organizations and faith leaders held a press conference denouncing the Ten Commandments bill. Felicia Martin, the Executive Director of Texas Freedom Network, said the bill would undermine students who might come from different or no religious backgrounds. “Matters of faith are best left to families and congregations, not government or schools,” she said.
According to TFN’s analysis of the public comments that were submitted to the House Public Education Committee for SB 10, 526 were negative. Just 18 were registered for the bill.
Texas is not the first state to pass legislation stipulating the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms. A Louisiana bill was signed into law in 2024. A federal judge in Louisiana blocked the law, which he deemed “unconstitutional on its face.”
Louisiana has appealed that judge’s decision to the Fifth Circuit. The state of Texas filed an amicus brief supporting Louisiana.
The Ten Commandants bill is not the only major piece of legislation effectively endorsing Christianity in public schools in Texas. Both the Texas Senate and House have passed a bill, Senate Bill 10, that would allocate a daily period of prayer and/or Bible study in public schools. Caro Achar, the Engagement Coordinator for Free Speech at the ACLU of Texas called SB 11 a “blatant violation of the First Amendment and an abuse of government power,” in a statement.
