Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
The Ten Commandments Monument on the grounds of the Texas Capitol, whose presence has long been defended by Governor Greg Abbott, now has a companion mandate: a new state law requires that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public-school classroom.
Gov. Abbott signed Senate Bill 10 on June 21, 2025, mandating a 16×20‑inch poster or framed copy of a specific English version of the Commandments in classrooms statewide. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.
Supporters, including Abbott and Sen. Phil King, argue that the Ten Commandments hold “historical and educational significance” and mirror the monument’s role on Capitol grounds. Abbot’s office noted that this action builds on his earlier success: as attorney general in 2005, he defended the Capitol monument in the Supreme Court case Van Orden v. Perry, in which the Court ruled it constitutional as a passive, historical display.
Abbott asserted that Texas’s action reinforces its values, stating, “Texas is where the American dream lives… we will keep Texas the best place to live, work, and to raise a family”. Advocates see the law as aligning educational settings with Texas’s cultural foundations; opponents view it as government endorsement of religion in public institutions.
