Texas Revives Ten Commandments Bill Amid Louisiana Ruling

Photo Credit: Ariel Min/The Texas Tribune

A federal judge in Louisiana has struck down a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, citing it as "unconstitutional on its face." The ruling cited concerns about religious coercion and violations of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. This decision could foreshadow legal battles for Texas as lawmakers gear up to revive a similar proposal at the next legislative session.

Last year, Texas Senate Bill 1515 passed the Senate but narrowly missed passage in the House due to time constraints in the previous legislative session. The bill would have mandated schools to "display copies of the Ten Commandments that are at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall, and "in a size and typeface that is legible to a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom."

Texas Senate Democrats openly opposed the bill, citing the need for separation of church and state. Many extremists in the Senate, meanwhile, stated they believed the separation of church and state is a "false doctrine" in their support for their bill.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the person responsible for setting the Senate's 2025 legislative priorities, has vowed to push the legislation forward in 2025, claiming that the Ten Commandments hold a "historical tradition of recognizing America's heritage, and remind students all across Texas of the importance of a fundamental foundation of American and Texas law." And he intends to follow through. Texas Republicans refiled House Bill 1009 and HB 1348 earlier this month. Many Texans, including educators and support staff, have voiced concerns that such policies undermine religious freedom in our public schools, which serve a diverse population of over 5 million students. Those concerns are why the right to religious freedom is included in our proposed Educator's Bill of Rights.

Texas has already been criticized for its policies blending religion and public education. In addition to this week's State Board of Education vote on Bible-infused state curriculum resources, Texas Senate Bill 763, which would have allowed unlicensed religious chaplains to counsel students in Texas public schools, was overwhelmingly rejected by school districts across the state. These efforts raise significant concerns about student and educator freedoms, the separation of church and state, and the misuse of public school funds.

Texas students' freedom to learn without religious imposition remains at stake as the next legislative fight looms this spring. This issue is more than legal - it's about ensuring public schools are places of inclusion and respect for all beliefs that allow our students to thrive.