NEW: Red State Becomes First To Require Ten Commandments In Classrooms

Louisiana has just made history as the first state to mandate that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom. Republican Governor Jeff Landry signed the bill into law on Wednesday.

This follows the state House of Representatives’ final passage of House Bill 71 on Tuesday, with a 79-16 vote, sending it to Governor Landry’s desk. The legislation saw opposition only from Democrats.

The bill passed mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in all classrooms of public and state-funded nonpublic schools, as well as postsecondary institutions in Louisiana. Each classroom must display the Ten Commandments on a poster or framed document that is at least 11 inches by 14 inches, with the text printed in a large, easily readable font, ensuring “the text of the Ten Commandments shall be the central focus.” The required text includes commandments such as “Thou shalt not kill” and “Thou shalt not steal.”

The legislation clarifies that schools and institutions are not obligated to use public funds for these displays, stating, “This Subsection does not require a public or nonpublic school governing authority to spend its funds to purchase displays.” However, governing authorities “may spend its funds or donated funds to purchase the displays and may accept donated displays.” The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is tasked with adopting rules to ensure proper implementation.

BREAKING: Louisiana becomes the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms. pic.twitter.com/DNxRIki7wO

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Starting in 2025, classrooms will feature displays of the Ten Commandments, accompanied by a four-paragraph statement explaining their significant presence in American public education for nearly three centuries. The move is set against a backdrop of ongoing legal controversies surrounding such displays in educational settings.

Republican State Rep. Dodie Horton defended the bill, stating that the Ten Commandments are foundational to legal history and the proposal aims to instill a “moral code” in classrooms. She brushed aside concerns from Democrats who argue that mandating a religious text in all classrooms breaches the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution, which mandates that Congress can “make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

In a joint statement, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation expressed their concerns, stating they were “deeply concerned” by the legislation.

“This bill is unconstitutional. The state may not require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Many faith-based and civil-rights organizations oppose this measure because it violates students’ and families’ fundamental right to religious freedom,” the statement read. “We are closely monitoring this situation and urge Louisianans to let the governor know that he should veto this bill. Politicians should not be forcing religious scripture on students. Our public schools are not Sunday schools, and students of all faiths—or no faith—should feel welcome in them.”

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Stone v. Graham that a Kentucky statute requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in public classrooms was unconstitutional. The decision was based on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion.” The Court found that the Kentucky law had no secular legislative purpose and served a predominantly religious function.

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