Texas public schools must start displaying Ten Commandments

Gov. Greg Abbott over the weekend signed a law requiring all public school classrooms to post a copy of the Ten Commandments. Copies of the Ten Commandments must be at least 16-by-20 inches in size and should be displayed as either a durable poster or in a frame. The document cannot contain any additional content or language. The law applies to all public schools without exception. The state is responsible for any legal challenges that may be brought against school districts, according to the final text of the passed bill. The state House and Senate passed the bill last month and it is due to take effect on Sept. 1.

Do any other states have similar laws? A federal appeals court last week struck down a similar law in Louisiana. Arkansas earlier this year adopted a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in schools. A group of families sued earlier this month trying to block the Arkansas law.

What do opponents of the law say? The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas has said it would sue over the new Texas law if it were to take effect. Some state legislators have said that posting the Commandments would infringe on a parent’s rights to direct their child’s spiritual development.

Dig deeper: Read Jane’ Aubry Page’s report about the Texas House advancing the bill.