Texas bill requiring Ten Commandments in public schools moves closer to governor's desk

A bill that would require the Ten Commandments to be posted in every public school classroom in Texas cleared a key legislative hurdle Sunday and is closer to heading to Gov.

A bill that would require the Ten Commandments to be posted in every public school classroom in Texas cleared a key legislative hurdle Sunday and is closer to heading to Gov. Greg Abbott for approval.

The state House of Representatives passed a version of the Ten Commandments bill in a 82-46 vote following a week of debate and delay, when Democratic lawmakers attempted to introduce amendments, including allowing individual school districts to opt in and for the Ten Commandments to be in different languages.

After the House passed the bill with an amendment on Sunday — requiring the state, rather than school districts, to defend any legal challenges to the law — it must now return to the Senate for approval. Advocates of the law celebrated the win after they initially assumed the bill would proceed directly to the governor once passed by the House.

Abbott’s office did not immediately comment about its passage, but the Republican governor is expected to sign it into law if it reaches his desk. The state Senate approved a previous version of the legislation in March on a 20-11 party-line vote.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had said the success of the bill, known as SB 10, was among his priorities for the current session, which ends next month, after similar legislation failed in 2023 because of time constraints.