Louisiana stands as the first state to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. Arkansas has passed similar legislation that has yet to be enacted. And now, Texas is poised to follow suit.

The Texas House of Representatives voted 88-49 to pass Senate Bill 10, which “requires public schools to post in classrooms a 16-by-20-inch (41-by-51-centimeter) poster or framed copy of a specific English version of the commandments,” the Associated Press reported. Due to amendments, the bill still awaits final Senate concurrence before heading to Governor Greg Abott’s (R) desk.

State Representative Candy Noble (R), a co-sponsor of the bill, passionately defended the legislation, arguing it honors “what is historically significant to our nation’s educational and judicial foundations.” Echoing her sentiment, Rep. Brent Money (R) took it a step further, declaring, “Our kids need prayer and Bible reading in schools now more than ever. Encouraging students to study their Bible daily will ground them in values that shaped our country.”

The push hasn’t been without resistance. Democratic lawmakers fought to broaden the bill, proposing amendments to include other religious texts or allow multiple translations of the Ten Commandments. These efforts, however, were soundly defeated, according to The Post Millennial. Meanwhile, a separate measure awaiting Abbott’s signature would permit schools to offer a voluntary daily period for prayer or reading religious texts, further amplifying the state’s embrace of faith-based initiatives in education. He is expected to sign both pieces of legislation.

As Texas and Arkansas march forward, and with other states like Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah proposing similar measures, the nation braces for impact. Will this ignite a wave of copycat laws across the country, or will it spark fierce legal battles over the First Amendment?

In an interview on “Washington Watch with Tony Perkins,” Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R), a key supporter, underscored the bill’s significance: “It’s part of our history. It’s part of who we are as a nation. It’s part of why we were founded.” He noted the bill’s practical implementation, stating, “Anyone who wants to donate a 16 by 20 framed Ten Commandments, you can take it to the school, and they are required to put it in the classroom,” ensuring no “unfunded mandate” while aiming to reach all 5.5 million students across Texas’s 8,500 campuses. Patrick envisions widespread community support, with churches, businesses, and individuals stepping forward to provide the framed displays, creating a grassroots movement to restore faith-based values in schools.

In terms of opposition, Texas Democrats, as Perkins noted, criticized the bill as “nothing more than a promotion of Judeo-Christian religious favoritism.” However, as Patrick highlighted, “We actually had some Democrat[ic] support on this bill out of the Senate. It was unanimous by Republicans. About a third of the Democrats voted for it.” Even so, they argued, legal challenges are likely, with groups like the ACLU historically opposing such measures, citing alleged First Amendment violations over church-state separation.

Perkins contextualized the movement within a broader historical framework, noting, “It was 60 years ago that prayer and the Bible [were] taken out of our schools. It really launched the moral majority … where they tried to get a constitutional amendment through to require prayer in school.” That effort, he explained, “failed in the United States Senate. But here we are, 40 years after that, and we see a vibrant effort in states across the nation to bring back an understanding of this foundational moral truth that … has guided this nation.” This resurgence reflects a deliberate push to counter decades of secularization in public schools, with advocates arguing that moral decline necessitates a return to biblical principles.

Patrick framed the legislation as part of a larger cultural reclamation, stating that “it wasn’t that long ago, really before the last election, that I think we thought we lost our culture in this country — we lost our faith foundation.” He explained how the Biden administration “was attacking Christians primarily, but all faiths — attacking religious liberty in this country.” But he pointed to a shift. “November happened, and Donald Trump came into office.” Patrick’s optimism was almost palpable. “I think we’re taking our country back. … No one has invoked the name of Jesus more than this president.”

Patrick went on to characterize the broader cultural fight. “This battle … is not really Republican and Democrat. It’s darkness and light. There’s a big movement in this country that wants to kick God out. … That’s how they take over a country, break up the family, kick God out, make government god.” He highlighted the potential of the legislation at hand. “Students are going to look at [the Ten Commandments] and say, ‘Teacher, tell me about that. What does that mean?’… It’s going to make students feel more comfortable.”

Additionally, Texas’s broader educational initiatives reinforce this approach. The Bluebonnet curriculum, adopted by approximately 400 of the state’s 1,200 school districts, incorporates the Bible, which Patrick said was “based on biblical stories because there’s so many stories in the Bible that are part of who we are.”

As Texas and other states pursue similar measures, Patrick remains optimistic. “[T]here’s this saying,” he stated, “that no one should get between a doctor and a patient. … [W]e believe no one should get between God and a believer, or God and a seeker. So, our Presidential Liberty Commission is … an outpouring of what you’re seeing around the country. We are taking this country back on God’s word. … [I]t’s time for America to reclaim it again.”

Perkins echoed this sentiment, arguing, “I think it’s appropriate that we begin looking at our schools, which have been the source of the indoctrination from the Left for the last several decades.” He linked secular education to a “10% decline in identification with Christianity,” asserting that “exposing kids to these moral truths is going to be absolutely critical.” 

Notably, public support for these measures appears strong — at least in Texas. Perkins cited a Rasmussen poll showing that 72% of Texas voters believe behavior and discipline in public schools have worsened, and 80% support making values and moral character based on biblical truth more available to students. This data suggests a receptive audience for faith-based educational reforms, bolstering advocates’ confidence in the face of potential legal challenges.

“I’m proud of everyone who’s pushing back,” Patrick concluded. “I’m proud of our Texas members who voted for this in both chambers. … [Y]ou have to fight for the faith. … [W]e are fighting for our faith and we’re not going to be pushed around anymore.”