Texas Ten Commandments Classroom Law Put on Hold

You had to know this was coming. Of all the changes that were made to schools in Texas this year, one change in particular stood out, and we all knew it would lead to legal battles.

During the regular legislative session in 2025, lawmakers passed a bill that requires all schools in Texas to display the Ten Commandments. That bill went to the Governor's desk, where he signed it into law.

What Senate Bill 10 Requires

In case you forgot, Senate Bill 10 (SB10) not only required that every single classroom in Texas display the Ten Commandments, but also laid out strict guidelines for the size, the version of the Ten Commandments to be used, and the location of the display.

The copy of the Ten Commandments on display must be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall. It must be visible from anywhere in the classroom. It must be framed or be a durable poster.

Before the bill was even signed into law, various groups began working on lawsuits to get it stopped. For some, it was because they felt the new law blurred the lines between Church and State, and it would infringe on the Establishment Clause.

For others, they were against it because they felt that anything related to religion should be left to the parents to discuss with their children.

Why the Judge Blocked the Law

On August 20, 2025, a federal judge in Texas put a temporary stop to the displaying of the Ten Commandments in classrooms across the Lone Star State. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery stated several reasons for this in his decision.

First, he stated that "Children can be cruel" and that this could lead to some students being cruel to those being perceived as "the other" if they don't adhere to the Ten Commandments as they are presented in the classroom.

He states that SB10 does not maintain denominational neutrality by requiring the display to be of a specific Judeo-Christian version of the Commandments. He also stated that SB10 crosses the line into coercion.

The Fight Over Religion in Texas Schools

He did offer some recommendations for other things that could be displayed that accomplish the same goal as SB10, which is honoring historic documents integral to the history of our shared culture.

One of his suggestions was to post multiple lessons of behavior from various cultures that meld into the American motto "E Pluribus Unum." He also recommends posting the golden rule, or All I Really Need To Know, I Learned In Kindergarten.

Of course, you can expect an appeal to be filed any minute now. Reports are that Attorney General Ken Paxton is already working on it.