Texas Senate Bill 10
| Senate Bill 10 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Texas Legislature | |
| |
| Territorial extent |  Texas |
| Enacted by | Texas Senate |
| Enacted | May 28, 2025 |
| Enacted by | Texas House of Representatives |
| Signed by | Greg Abbott |
| Signed | June 21, 2025 |
| Effective | September 1, 2025 |
| First chamber: Texas Senate | |
| Bill citation | [1] |
| Introduced by | Phil King and Mayes Middleton |
| Summary | |
| Mandates that public schools in the state of Texas display the Ten Commandments in a clearly visible place. | |
| Status: Not yet in force | |
Texas Senate Bill 10 (S.B. 10) is a 2025 law in the state of Texas that requires all public schools in the state to include the Ten Commandments in the classroom. It was passed by the Texas Legislature on May 28, 2025 along party lines and was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 21, 2025.[1][2][3] It will go into effect on September 1, 2025.[4]
It was originally introduced by Texas state senators Phil King and Mayes Middleton.[5][6] Texas had attempted to pass a bill similar to S.B. 10 in 2023.[7] Some supporters claimed that the Ten Commandments had historical value and not only religious value.[8] The bill drew comparisons to a similar law, House Bill 71, which was passed in neighboring Louisiana in 2024. The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil liberty organizations have vowed to sue Texas over the law.[9] Most of the controversy regarding S.B. 10 involves the separation of church and state and freedom of religion.[10] The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits an official state religion, which is another potential issue.[11]
Provisions
[edit]S.B. 10 requires public schools to display the Ten Commandments anywhere clearly visible. The law requires the display to be framed or a poster, and include the exact text of the Ten Commandments provided in the law without alternatives. It must also be at least 16 inches (41 cm) wide and 20 inches (51 cm) tall.[12]
Reactions
[edit]Support
[edit]Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick applauded the main author of the bill, state senator Phil King, for introducing the bill.[13] The Jewish Press also supported the bill because of the Torah.[14] Texas Republicans released a statement that a "wide range of societal problems" were applicable to the lack of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.[15] President Donald Trump had previously supported a nearly identical bill in Louisiana.[16]
Opposition
[edit]The bill was passed along party lines, with Texas Democrats mostly opposing S.B. 10.[17] State representative Vincent Perez (D-77) stated in an interview that the bill did not teach history and only promoted a single religion, which was against freedom of religion.[18] San Antonio Express-News released an op-ed in May 2025 in opposition to S.B. 10.[19] The Interfaith Alliance, a religious and political advocacy group, released a statement with over 160 faith leaders in Texas opposing the bill.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ "Texas Gov. Greg Abbott plans to sign Ten Commandments bill after Senate approval". NBC News. 2025-05-28. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Schneider, Andrew (2025-03-20). "Texas Senate passes bill requiring Ten Commandments to be displayed in public-school classrooms". Houston Public Media. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Falcon, Julia; Nielsen, Nicole (2025-06-25). "Texas parents sue state, school districts after Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill requiring Ten Commandments displayed in classrooms". CBS News. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ Garcia, Dominique (2025-06-26). "Texas Schools Face New Religious Display Mandate". kkam.com. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ "Texas Senate advances Ten Commandment and school prayer bills - NBC 5 Dallas-Forth Worth". nbcdfw. March 20, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Vandergriff, Caroline (2025-03-21). "Texas Senate pushing for prayer, Ten Commandments in public schools - CBS Texas". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ "Texas GOP rep accused of breaking commandment with Ten Commandments vote". Newsweek. 2025-05-27. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Velez, Abigail (2025-04-29). "Texas lawmakers hear final testimony on bill requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms". KEYE. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Fullerton, Adam (2025-05-29). "Groups prepared to sue Texas over bill requiring Ten Commandments in public schools". FOX 7 Austin. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Kamal, By Sameea (2025-05-25). "Texas will require public school classrooms to display Ten Commandments under bill headed to governor". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ "Texas could soon mandate Ten Commandments in public schools". kiiitv.com. 2025-05-28. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ "89(R) SB 10 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Admin, Web (2025-03-19). "Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: Statement on the Passage of Senate Bill 10 — Placing the Ten Commandments in Schools". Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Israel, David (2025-05-27). "Just in Time for Shavuot: Texas House Passes 10 Commandments Bill". The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ "Texas lawmakers mull more education bills with an eye toward culture war issues". Texas Standard. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Tsiaperas, Tasha (2025-03-25). "The Texas Senate advances bills that infuse religion in the classroom". Axios. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ "Texas House passes bill to display Ten Commandments in classrooms". kvue.com. 2025-05-24. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Schneider, Andrew (2025-05-25). "Texas House passes Senate bill requiring display of the Ten Commandments in all public-school classrooms". Houston Public Media. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ "Opinion: Ten Commandments bill mocks parental rights". San Antonio Express-News. May 13, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ "166 Texas Faith Leaders Urge Lawmakers to Protect Religious Freedom by Rejecting Ten Commandments Displays in Public School Classrooms". interfaithalliance.org. Retrieved 2025-05-29.