Bill Text: TX SB10 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled

Texas Senate Bill 10

Bill Title: Relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.

Sponsorship: Broadly Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2025-06-20 - Effective on 9/1/25 [SB10 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-SB10-Enrolled.html



	S.B. No. 10




	AN ACT
	relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school
	classrooms.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Education Code, is amended by adding
	Section 1.0041 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1.0041. DISPLAY OF TEN COMMANDMENTS. (a) Subject to
	Subsection (e), a public elementary or secondary school shall
	display in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school a
	durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments that meets the
	requirements of Subsection (b).
	(b) A poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments
	described by Subsection (a) must:
	(1) include only the text of the Ten Commandments as
	provided by Subsection (c) in a size and typeface that is legible to
	a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom in which
	the poster or framed copy is displayed; and
	(2) be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall.
	(c) The text of the poster or framed copy of the Ten
	Commandments described by Subsection (a) must read as follows:
	"The Ten Commandments
	I AM the LORD thy God.
	Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
	Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images.
	Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.
	Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
	Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the
	land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
	Thou shalt not kill.
	Thou shalt not commit adultery.
	Thou shalt not steal.
	Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
	Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.
	Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor
	his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy
	neighbor's."
	(d) A public elementary or secondary school in which each
	classroom does not include a poster or framed copy of the Ten
	Commandments as required by Subsection (a) must:
	(1) accept any offer of a privately donated poster or
	framed copy of the Ten Commandments provided that the poster or
	copy:
	(A) meets the requirements of Subsection (b); and
	(B) does not contain any additional content; and
	(2) display the poster or framed copy as specified in
	Subsection (a).
	(e) A public elementary or secondary school in which each
	classroom does not include a poster or framed copy of the Ten
	Commandments as required by Subsection (a) may, but is not required
	to, purchase posters or copies that meet the requirements of
	Subsection (b) using district funds.
	(f) Notwithstanding any other law, a public elementary or
	secondary school is not exempt from this section.
	(g) The attorney general shall defend a public elementary or
	secondary school in a cause of action relating to any claims arising
	out of a school's compliance with this section. In a cause of
	action defended by the attorney general under this subsection, the
	state is liable for the expenses, costs, judgments, or settlements
	of the claims arising out of the representation. The attorney
	general may settle or compromise any and all claims under this
	subsection.
	SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
	school year.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2025.






	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House

	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 10 passed the Senate on
	March 19, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11; and that
	the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 28, 2025, by the
	following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10.


	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate

	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 10 passed the House, with
	amendment, on May 25, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 82,
	Nays 46, one present not voting.


	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House



	Approved:

	______________________________
	Date


	______________________________
	Governor