TEXAS TEN COMMANDMENTS CLASSROOM BILL SENT TO GOVERNOR FOR SIGNATURE

A bill that would require all public school classrooms in Texas to display the Ten Commandments is now on its way to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk after passing the state House on Sunday. The legislation, known as Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), was approved in an 88-49 vote following intense debate and attempts by Democratic lawmakers to amend it, according to the Texas Tribune.

The state Senate had already passed the bill in March along party lines with a 20-11 vote. Governor Abbott has not yet commented on the legislation, though he is expected to sign it into law.

Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a strong supporter of SB 10, made the bill a priority this session. He said, “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.”

If signed, the bill will require every public elementary and secondary school classroom in Texas to “display in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments.” The displays must measure at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall and include the full text of the commandments as specified in the bill. Schools can use private donations or district funds to pay for the posters, which would be required by the 2025–26 school year.

The bill is likely to face legal challenges. In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Stone v. Graham that such displays in classrooms were unconstitutional, a precedent that may come into play again. A similar law passed in Louisiana last year is already being challenged by a group of parents from multiple religious backgrounds.

SB 10 does not outline any enforcement measures, and it’s uncertain what consequences, if any, schools might face for not complying. A committee analysis from the Texas House noted that the bill “does not expressly create a criminal offense.”

Supporters argue the Ten Commandments are a key part of American heritage. “The Ten Commandments are part of our Texas and American story,” said State Sen. Phil King, who authored the bill.

COMMENTARY:

The Ten Commandments have played a symbolic and sometimes practical role throughout the history of the United States, particularly as a reference point for moral values and the legal tradition. While the U.S. Constitution does not mention them, the commandments have often been invoked in American political and cultural life as a foundation for common ethics.

During the colonial era, many settlers, especially in New England, drew directly from the Bible, including the Ten Commandments, to shape their local laws. Puritan communities in particular used Scripture as a legal and moral guide, and some colonies incorporated biblical principles into their statutes. This reflected the settlers’ belief that society should be governed by God’s laws.

The influence of the Ten Commandments can also be seen in early American education. In the 17th and 18th centuries, schoolchildren were taught to read using religious texts, including catechisms and Bible verses. The Ten Commandments were often part of this instruction, reinforcing their role in shaping young citizens’ understanding of right and wrong.

Although the Founders were deeply divided on matters of religion—some were devout Christians while others were deists or skeptics—they largely agreed on the importance of morality in public life. Figures like George Washington and John Adams emphasized virtue as essential to the republic’s survival, and many Americans associated such virtue with biblical principles, including the Ten Commandments.

In the 19th century, as America expanded and diversified religiously, the Ten Commandments remained a point of moral reference but not without controversy. Religious minorities and non-Christians often challenged the idea that a specific religious code should define public ethics or law. Still, public buildings, including some courthouses, continued to display the commandments as a symbol of moral order.

During the 20th century, especially in the post–World War II era, the Ten Commandments became part of a broader cultural and political assertion of America’s religious heritage. In response to the Cold War and the spread of communism, which was associated with atheism, American leaders increasingly emphasized the nation’s religious roots, and the commandments were sometimes used to visually represent this identity.

Hollywood even contributed to the commandments’ cultural prominence with films like The Ten Commandments (1956), which became a major box office success and a staple of American religious storytelling. These portrayals reinforced the commandments as a shared moral heritage, even for many Americans who did not strictly follow biblical religion.

The commandments also appeared in legal controversies, especially in the latter half of the 20th century. Court cases debated whether public displays of the Ten Commandments violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. In the landmark 1980 Stone v. Graham decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in public school classrooms was unconstitutional.

Despite such rulings, displays of the commandments remained on courthouse lawns, in state capitol buildings, and other public spaces. Supporters argued these displays were not purely religious but reflected the historical and moral foundations of Western law. Critics countered that they endorsed a specific religious viewpoint in violation of church-state separation.

That’s why I support what the state of Texas is doing by requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms. It’s not about forcing religion—it’s about returning to a set of moral principles that helped shape the character of this nation. We’ve drifted too far from teaching right and wrong in our schools, and the Ten Commandments offer a clear, time-tested foundation for values that transcend politics.

Politicians, particularly conservative ones, have continued to cite the Ten Commandments as essential to restoring moral order. In times of cultural upheaval or perceived decline, references to the commandments often resurface in political rhetoric, especially around education and criminal justice.

At the same time, America’s increasingly pluralistic society has sparked debate over the relevance of the Ten Commandments in public life. As more citizens identify with non-Christian faiths or no religion at all, public displays tied to one tradition are viewed by some as exclusionary or even unconstitutional.

Yet the commandments retain symbolic power. They represent a shared cultural memory of law and morality, even among those who don’t accept them as divine mandates. Their language—prohibitions against murder, theft, lying—echoes in both legal codes and social expectations.

In this way, the Ten Commandments have functioned more as moral markers than as binding laws in American history. Their influence is woven into public discourse, courtroom drama, and even classroom controversy, serving as a touchstone for debates over values, identity, and the role of religion in public life.

Ultimately, the history of the Ten Commandments in the United States is a reflection of the country’s ongoing struggle to balance religious heritage with constitutional principles. Their presence in American life has been both celebrated and challenged, making them a potent symbol at the intersection of faith, law, and culture. And in my view, Texas is right to embrace that heritage in its classrooms.

ARTICLE:

https://dailycaller.com/2025/05/25/texas-bill-requiring-ten-commandments-in-public-school-classrooms-heads-to-governors-desk/