Texas is set to become the largest state in the US to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, under a new law. Governor Greg Abbott has signed the bill into law, but it is expected to face legal challenges from critics who believe it violates the separation of church and state.
Similar laws in Louisiana and Arkansas have already faced legal hurdles, with a federal appeals court ruling that the Louisiana law is unconstitutional. The Texas measure passed easily in the Republican-controlled Legislature and is meant to highlight the historical importance of the Ten Commandments in the US.
Supporters argue that the commandments are foundational to the country’s systems of justice and education, while opponents, including some religious leaders, argue that it hinders religious freedom. The law requires a specific version of the commandments to be displayed in classrooms across the state, despite varying translations and interpretations.
Abbott previously defended a public Ten Commandments monument in Texas in a successful Supreme Court case in 2005. However, Louisiana’s similar law has twice been ruled unconstitutional in federal courts. The state attorney general has vowed to appeal and take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/21/texas-ten-commandments-law
