Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a law mandating that all public school classrooms display the Ten Commandments, making Texas the largest state to implement such a requirement.

The law, which passed easily in both the Republican-controlled state House and Senate, reflects strong political support for the measure.

A similar law in Arkansas is also under legal scrutiny, indicating that the issue of religious displays in public schools is contentious across multiple states.

With approximately 6 million students enrolled in about 9,100 public schools in Texas, the new law could significantly impact a large and diverse student population.

The legislative session that concluded on June 2, 2025, saw the swift passage of this bill, showcasing the alignment of the Texas legislature with conservative values.

Supporters of the law argue that the Ten Commandments should be included in public education, while critics, including some religious leaders, contend that it infringes on the religious freedoms of students from various faiths.

In addition to the display requirement, the legislation allows school districts to offer a voluntary daily period for prayer or reading religious texts during school hours.

The law is expected to face legal challenges, as similar legislation in Louisiana has been ruled unconstitutional multiple times, and Texas Attorney General Liz Murrell has expressed intentions to appeal any challenges to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Co-sponsor of the bill, Republican state representative Candy Noble, emphasized that the intent is to highlight historically significant elements of the nation’s educational and judicial heritage.

As the legal landscape evolves, the outcome of these challenges could set important precedents regarding the separation of church and state in public education.

Abbott has a history of defending the display of religious symbols, having successfully upheld a Ten Commandments monument at the Texas Capitol before the Supreme Court in 2005.