Texas Faces Lawsuits Over Ten Commandments Classroom Law

Texas Senate Bill 10 requires all public school classrooms to display a conspicuous 16×20-inch poster of a specific Protestant version of the Ten Commandments, with the law set to take effect on September 1, 2025. The mandate has triggered lawsuits from a coalition of families and faith leaders of diverse religious backgrounds, who argue that the requirement violates First Amendment protections and could marginalize non-Christian students. Civil liberties organizations including the ACLU, Freedom From Religion Foundation, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State are supporting the legal challenge and intend to seek a preliminary injunction to halt enforcement before the school year starts. Similar legislation in Louisiana was previously ruled unconstitutional by federal courts, raising the prospect of a lengthy legal battle in Texas that could reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Proponents argue the law is meant to expose students to the Ten Commandments rather than instruct or require memorization. The provision requiring schools to hold prayer periods is not included in the current legislation.