Signed by Governor Greg Abbott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that requires the 10 Commandments be displayed in public schools in Texas.

Highlights:

• Requires that public elementary or secondary schools shall display in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school a poster or a framed copy of the 10 Commandments meeting the following criteria (Sec. 1):

• Can be seen legibly by an individual with normal vision from any part of the classroom;

• Be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall; and

• Does not contain any additional content.

• Requires that the poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments read as follows: (Sec. 1):

• I AM the LORD thy God;

• Thou shalt have no other gods before me;

• Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images;

• Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain;

• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy;

• Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee;

• Thou shalt not kill;

• Thou shalt not commit adultery;

• Thou shalt not steal;

• Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor;

• Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house; and

• Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s."

• Requires all classrooms that do not include a poster or framed copy to accept any offer of a privately donated poster or framed copy (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that classrooms are not required to purchase posters or copies that meet the requirements using district funds (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires the 10 Commandments be displayed in public schools in Texas.

Highlights:

• Requires that public elementary or secondary schools shall display in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school a poster or a framed copy of the 10 Commandments meeting the following criteria (Sec. 1):

• Can be seen legibly by an individual with normal vision from any part of the classroom;

• Be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall; and

• Does not contain any additional content.

• Requires that the poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments read as follows: (Sec. 1):

• I AM the LORD thy God;

• Thou shalt have no other gods before me;

• Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images;

• Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain;

• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy;

• Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee;

• Thou shalt not kill;

• Thou shalt not commit adultery;

• Thou shalt not steal;

• Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor;

• Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house; and

• Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s."

• Requires all classrooms that do not include a poster or framed copy to accept any offer of a privately donated poster or framed copy (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that classrooms are not required to purchase posters or copies that meet the requirements using district funds (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the 10 Commandments be displayed in public schools in Texas.

Highlights:

• Requires that public elementary or secondary schools shall display in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school a poster or a framed copy of the 10 Commandments meeting the following criteria (Sec. 1):

• Can be seen legibly by an individual with normal vision from any part of the classroom;

• Be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall; and

• Does not contain any additional content.

• Requires that the poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments read as follows: (Sec. 1):

• I AM the LORD thy God;

• Thou shalt have no other gods before me;

• Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images;

• Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain;

• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy;

• Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee;

• Thou shalt not kill;

• Thou shalt not commit adultery;

• Thou shalt not steal;

• Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor;

• Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house; and

• Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s."

• Requires all classrooms that do not include a poster or framed copy to accept any offer of a privately donated poster or framed copy (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that classrooms are not required to purchase posters or copies that meet the requirements using district funds (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text