Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2696 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R12715 ANG-F
2	2	By: Noble H.B. No. 2696
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school
10	10	classrooms.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Education Code, is amended by adding
13	13	Section 1.0041 to read as follows:
14	14	Sec. 1.0041. DISPLAY OF TEN COMMANDMENTS. (a) Subject to
15	15	Subsection (e), a public elementary or secondary school shall
16	16	display in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school a
17	17	durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments that meets the
18	18	requirements of Subsection (b).
19	19	(b) A poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments
20	20	described by Subsection (a) must:
21	21	(1) include only the text of the Ten Commandments as
22	22	provided by Subsection (c) in a size and typeface that is legible to
23	23	a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom in which
24	24	the poster or framed copy is displayed; and
25	25	(2) be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall.
26	26	(c) The text of the poster or framed copy of the Ten
27	27	Commandments described by Subsection (a) must read as follows:
28	28	"The Ten Commandments
29	29	I AM the LORD thy God.
30	30	Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
31	31	Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images.
32	32	Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.
33	33	Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
34	34	Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the
35	35	land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
36	36	Thou shalt not kill.
37	37	Thou shalt not commit adultery.
38	38	Thou shalt not steal.
39	39	Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
40	40	Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.
41	41	Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor
42	42	his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy
43	43	neighbor's."
44	44	(d) A public elementary or secondary school in which each
45	45	classroom does not include a poster or framed copy of the Ten
46	46	Commandments as required by Subsection (a) must:
47	47	(1) accept any offer of a privately donated poster or
48	48	framed copy of the Ten Commandments provided that the poster or
49	49	copy:
50	50	(A) meets the requirements of Subsection (b); and
51	51	(B) does not contain any additional content; and
52	52	(2) display the poster or framed copy as specified in
53	53	Subsection (a).
54	54	(e) A public elementary or secondary school in which each
55	55	classroom does not include a poster or framed copy of the Ten
56	56	Commandments as required by Subsection (a) may, but is not required
57	57	to, purchase posters or copies that meet the requirements of
58	58	Subsection (b) using district funds.
59	59	(f) Notwithstanding any other law, a public elementary or
60	60	secondary school is not exempt from this section.
61	61	SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
62	62	school year.
63	63	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
64	64	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
65	65	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
66	66	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
67	67	Act takes effect September 1, 2025.