Bill advancing towards governor's desk proposes incorporation of Ten Commandments in Texas schools
Texas' Controversial Ten Commandments Bill inches Closer to Approval
A bill mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms in Texas advanced on Sunday, crossing a significant Legislative hurdle. The House of Representatives approved the legislation in an 82-46 vote following a week of debates and delays.
The proposed law now returns to the Senate for approval, as the bill, known as SB 10, requires amendments following the House vote. One amendment requires the state, rather than school districts, to defend any legal challenges to the law.
The bill's success is a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during this legislative session, which concludes next month. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign the bill into law if it lands on his desk, as the Republican governor generally backs such legislation.
The state Senate approved a previous version of the bill in March, with a 20-11 party-line vote. Advocates of the law hailed their win after assuming the bill would proceed directly to the governor once the House passed it.
However, legal opposition to the bill is likely. Louisiana's GOP-drafted law on the Ten Commandments faced swift challenges last year from a coalition of parents of various religious beliefs. Likewise, Texas' bill has constitutional concerns, given the First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibiting government establishment of religion.
Under the Texas bill, public elementary or secondary schools must post a conspicuous display of the Ten Commandments in each classroom. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, schools may accept privately donated displays or use district funds for the same purpose. Non-compliance isn't explicitly addressed in the bill, leaving unclear potential consequences for schools or individual teachers.
Meanwhile, Texas House members also approved another religion-based bill on Friday. This legislation allows school districts to adopt policies permitting a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or "other religious text" with parental consent. Abbott is also expected to sign this bill into law.
Opponents like state Rep. James Talarico, a Christian, have objected to the Ten Commandments bill, arguing that it may feel exclusionary to non-Christian students. They fear the wave of conservative-leaning legislation promoting the Bible in public school education could encourage bullying and religious intolerance.
Critics also argue that the bill may violate religious freedom and the constitutional separation of church and state by endorsing a specific religion. Conversely, proponents maintain that the Ten Commandments have historical and educational value beyond any religious meaning.
Supporters of the bill claim the Ten Commandments are integral to Texas and American history. Yet, the bill's constitutionality remains uncertain, as similar laws in other states have faced legal challenges and been struck down.
- The debated Ten Commandments bill in Texas, if passed, might open a path for the use of district funds for private donations for the display of the Ten Commandments in schools, raising questions about constitutional separation of church and state in education-and-self-development policies and potential violations of religious freedom.
- As the controversial Ten Commandments bill advances in Texas, funds and resources may be allocated for school districts to comply with the requirement to display the Ten Commandments or accept privately donated displays, sparking debates about the role of politics and policy-and-legislation in promoting specific religious teachings in the general-news landscape.
- Amid concerns about religious exclusion, the Ten Commandments bill's success could influence the landscape of learning in Texas public schools, potentially leading to more conservative-leaning policies centered on education-and-self-development based on religious texts like the Bible, inviting further controversy and general-news discussions concerning the policy's impact on religious diversity and freedom.
