Texas bill would protect teachers’ right to pray at work

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The Texas Capitol Associated Press / Photo by Stephen Spillman

Texas bill would protect teachers’ right to pray at work

The Texas State Senate Committee on State Affairs on Monday heard testimony on a bill that would safeguard the rights of public and charter school employees to express their faith while on duty. State Sen. Tan Parker introduced the measure to codify the rights of school staff to engage in religious speech or prayer during their working hours. In the bill, Parker referenced the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. Justices in 2022 upheld high school football coach Joe Kennedy’s right to pray on the field after games.

Director of the Texas Faith & Freedom Coalition Donald Gardner testified before senators in favor of the bill. The measure would not compel people to participate in religious speech, he said—rather, it would protect school employees’ freedom of religion as outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

Dig deeper: Read Liz Lykins’ report about a legal challenge to Louisiana’s Ten Commandments mandate.

Lauren Canterberry

Lauren Canterberry is a reporter for WORLD. She graduated from the World Journalism Institute and the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, both in 2017. She worked as a local reporter in Texas and now lives in Georgia with her husband.