The Texas House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 10 on Sunday, to require the display of the Ten Commandments in all public-school classrooms. Just days earlier, on Friday, May 23, the House also approved Senate Bill 11 to allow for periods of prayer and Bible readings in public and charter schools.
Experts predict Senate Bill 10 is all but certain to lead to a First Amendment court challenge. As Houston Public Media reports, Republican State Representative Candy Noble sponsored the measure in the House. “The displaying of the Ten Commandments in our Texas classrooms will bring back this historic tradition of recognizing America’s foundational heritage in both our educational and judicial systems and remind students of the importance of this cornerstone of American and Texas law.”
During debate, several Democrats said roughly a third of Texans are neither Christian nor Jewish and do not consider the Ten Commandments foundational to their belief systems. Following a final concurrence by the state Senate, the bill will go to Governor Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it.
Gov. Abbott is also expected to sign Senate Bill 11. As Houston Public Media reported Friday, SB 11 will let school districts and charter school governing boards decide whether to allow for periods of prayer or Bible readings during the school day. Republican Representative David Spiller stressed the bill was written to protect the religious freedom both of those who wish to pray and of those who don’t. “There’s been a lot of misinformation about this, indicating that it’s compulsory and so forth, and it’s not. It’s purely voluntary, and we’ve protected the rights of those that choose not to participate.”
But Democratic opponents contend students may feel pressured to participate, either by teachers, administrators, or fellow students. That too could lead to a court challenge of the measure on First Amendment grounds.
Texas Lawmakers Approve Ten Commandments & School Prayer Measures
