Texas Ten Commandments Bill: Schools Update
- The Texas House has given its final approval to a bill that would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
- The bill, focused on the Ten Commandments, sparked considerable debate, particularly concerning its constitutionality adn potential legal challenges.
- The bill's passage highlights ongoing discussions about the role of religion in public education.
The Texas House has greenlit a bill mandating Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms, sparking fresh debate over religious influence in education. This important progress, approved by an 82-46 vote, sends Senate Bill 10 back to the Senate for review, bringing the primary_keyword one step closer to law. An amendment ensures the state will handle legal challenges, shielding individual school districts from associated costs, a strategic move likely to intensify the secondary_keyword conversations surrounding the bill’s constitutionality. News Directory 3 stays on top of these critical updates. Discover what’s next as this legislation navigates the Senate and potentially reaches Governor Abbott’s desk.
Texas House Approves Bill Requiring Ten Commandments in Classrooms
Updated May 26, 2025
The Texas House has given its final approval to a bill that would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. The 82-46 vote on Sunday sent Senate Bill 10 back to the Senate for review, bringing the controversial measure one step closer to becoming law.
The bill, focused on the Ten Commandments, sparked considerable debate, particularly concerning its constitutionality adn potential legal challenges. An amendment, introduced by state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, stipulates that the state, rather than individual school districts, will be responsible for defending the law and covering any associated legal costs. This amendment passed without opposition.
The bill’s passage highlights ongoing discussions about the role of religion in public education. Similar legislation in Louisiana is currently stalled due to a federal judge deeming it unconstitutional, raising questions about the future of Texas’s Ten Commandments mandate and its potential path to the U.S.Supreme Court.
State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, pointed out the irony of voting on the bill over the weekend, potentially violating the Fourth Commandment regarding the sabbath. He engaged in a discussion with state Rep. Candy Noble, R-Lucas, the bill’s sponsor, about the Jewish Sabbath falling on Saturday and the Christian Sabbath on Sunday, questioning the timing of the vote.
“Nothing is more deep-rooted in the fabric of our American tradition of education than the Ten Commandments. The very way we treat others as a society come from the principles found in the Ten Commandments,” Noble said during the bill layout Saturday on the House floor.
Noble defended the bill, asserting that the Ten Commandments are foundational to American education and the judicial system, citing their favorable mention in over 500 court cases. Opponents, however, voiced concerns that the mandate could lead to religious indoctrination.Attempts by Democrats to include portrayal for other faiths through amendments where unsuccessful.
What’s next
With the bill now heading back to the Senate,its future hinges on further review and potential reconciliation of any amendments. If approved by the Senate, it will then go to Gov. Greg Abbott for final approval, potentially setting the stage for legal challenges and further debate over the place of religion in Texas public schools.