Court Battles & Confusion as Texas Ten Commandments Law Takes Effect

Texas's new Ten Commandments law, Senate Bill 10, officially went into effect on September 1, but implementation is unfolding unevenly across the state. The law, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June, requires public schools to post a specific Protestant version of the Ten Commandments in every classroom on a 16-by-20-inch display.

A federal court ruling has already slowed the law's rollout. On Aug. 20, a judge in San Antonio blocked enforcement in 11 districts, including Austin ISD, Houston ISD, and Plano ISD, citing likely violations of the Establishment Clause. The ruling came in Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights ISD, a case brought by the ACLU of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation on behalf of 16 families of diverse faiths. The injunction applies only to the named districts, leaving more than 1,000 other districts facing immediate compliance obligations.

Attorney General Ken Paxton quickly responded with a memo instructing all non-enjoined districts to post the Commandments as scheduled, beginning Sept. 1. Some districts, such as Conroe ISD, have already moved forward with displays, while others remain hesitant. Houston-area administrators described the situation as a "no-win" dilemma: risk litigation by enforcing the law or risk sanctions from the state by holding back.

Civil rights groups continue to push back. The ACLU of Texas and its partners have warned districts statewide that complying with the law could expose them to costly lawsuits and undermine constitutional protections for students. Their guidance emphasizes that public schools cannot endorse or impose a specific religious viewpoint on students or educators.

The legal battle is still in its early stages. Paxton has appealed the injunction, setting up a likely showdown in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. For now, the Ten Commandments are appearing in many Texas classrooms, but the courts - not local administrators - will determine how long they remain.

Do districts have to buy the posters?

No. They are required only to accept donations of posters meeting the requirements. Under no circumstances should teachers be expected to buy them either!

Can I post a different version of the Ten Commandments?

No. The law is highly specific about the version required for posting.

Can I post other things next to the copy of the Ten Commandments, like the Bill of Rights or texts from other faith traditions?

There is nothing in the letter of the law that forbids this. The only thing you cannot do is tamper with or alter the Ten Commandments poster itself.