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Education · Religious liberty · Public records

Ten Commandments School Laws by State

What the law requires. What the courts ordered. What local records establish.

By WorthFighting Research · Published and verified October 9, 2026 · Selected records, not a nationwide compliance census

National tracker State database Court database 2026 report

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All records and sources are present in the initial page. Search and filters narrow this audited set; they do not search every state or docket.

8 of 8 records shownLink to these filters

Texas

EnactedRequired

Texas requires prescribed classroom displays and requires acceptance of qualifying donations. The Fifth Circuit rejected the federal claims in Nathan, but Supreme Court review remains requested—not granted. District notices document different funding and rollout choices.

Law, funding, deadline and court fields

Law / bill: SB 10 / Education Code §1.0041
Law status: Enacted
Enacted: 2025-06-20
Effective: 2025-09-01
Display deadline / start: 2025–26 school year; donation/purchase mechanics apply
Schools: Public elementary and secondary schools, including open-enrollment charters
Grades: Elementary and secondary; no grade exemption
Classrooms / common areas: Each classroom, conspicuous placement
Display rule: Required
Size and text: At least 16 inches wide × 20 inches tall; prescribed text only, legible from anywhere in the classroom
Historical context: No additional content on the required poster
Donation condition: Schools lacking required posters must accept and display compliant privately donated copies
Public funding: District purchases allowed but not required; public funds are not categorically prohibited
Defense / indemnity: AG shall defend compliance claims; state liable for representation expenses, costs, judgments or settlements (§1.0041(g))
State guidance: TEA June 18, 2026 FAQ; October 2025 AG advisory
Implementation: Required and in effect
Court status: Certiorari petition pending
Injunction scope: Nathan preliminary injunction vacated April 21, 2026. Do not extend this disposition to every separate lawsuit or later order.
Federal circuit: Fifth
Latest filing / verified event: 2026-09-28 — amici brief listed in Supreme Court docket 26-257
Supreme Court: 26-257 pending; response due 2026-10-28; no grant located
Last verified: 2026-10-09

Texas SB 10 — enrolled law · Texas Legislature — SB 10 history · Texas Education Agency — legislative FAQ · Texas AG — SB 10 legal advisory · Nathan — Fifth Circuit en banc opinion · Supreme Court docket 26-257 · Roth v. Texas — original petition

Louisiana

EnactedRequired

Louisiana’s statute combines a mandatory classroom display with local design discretion. Roake removed a preliminary injunction because the challenge depended on undeveloped display context. It did not hold every possible implementation constitutional.

Law, funding, deadline and court fields

Law / bill: HB 71 / Act 676 / R.S. 17:2124
Law status: Enacted
Enacted: 2024-06-19
Effective: 2024-06-19
Display deadline / start: 2025-01-01 statutory display deadline
Schools: Public schools and public postsecondary institutions
Grades: K–12 and postsecondary
Classrooms / common areas: Each classroom; local governing authority determines nature of K–12 display
Display rule: Required
Size and text: At least 11 × 14 inches; prescribed text is central focus in large, easily readable font
Historical context: K–12 displays include statutory history statement; additional listed historical documents permitted. Postsecondary subsection separately specifies text/size.
Donation condition: K–12 authority shall accept donated funds or donated displays to fund them free of charge
Public funding: Law does not require school authorities or postsecondary institutions to spend their own funds; donated funds/displays are specified
Defense / indemnity: No special defense/indemnity provision identified in the cited display section
State guidance: AG guidance letter, four sample designs and draft resolution; BESE/department duties in statute
Implementation: Required and in effect
Court status: Certiorari petition pending
Injunction scope: Roake preliminary injunction vacated as premature. That ruling does not adjudicate every actual display or insulate future as-applied challenges.
Federal circuit: Fifth
Latest filing / verified event: 2026-09-18 — response extensions in 25-1360 and 26-256
Supreme Court: Brumley v. Roake 25-1360 conditional petition pending (response October 19); Dier 26-256 pending (response October 28)
Last verified: 2026-10-09

Louisiana R.S. 17:2124 — Act 676 · Roake — Fifth Circuit en banc opinion · Supreme Court docket 25-1360 · Brumley v. Roake — conditional petition and appendix · Supreme Court docket 26-256 · Dier — court orders and complaint appendix · Louisiana AG — HB 71 guidance and display models · Louisiana AG — notice after Roake decision · Livingston Parish School Board — March 19 minutes

Arkansas

EnactedRequired, subject to funding and court orders

The permanent injunction in Stinson is directed to six defendant school districts. Arkansas’s statute remains an enacted law; the Eighth Circuit heard argument September 22. The official opinion search showed no decision at the October 9 check.

Law, funding, deadline and court fields

Law / bill: Act 573 / Ark. Code §1-4-133
Law status: Enacted
Enacted: 2025-04-14
Effective: 2025-08-05
Display deadline / start: Duty operates when subsection (b) funds/displays are available
Schools: Public elementary/secondary schools, public higher education; law also covers public buildings
Grades: All covered school levels
Classrooms / common areas: Classrooms and libraries; additional public buildings/facilities under statute
Display rule: Required, subject to funding and court orders
Size and text: At least 16 × 20 inches; prescribed wording legible from anywhere in room
Historical context: Statute calls it a historical representation; no Louisiana-style accompanying history paragraph
Donation condition: Initial copies donated or purchased solely from voluntary contributions under subsection (b)
Public funding: Subsection (c) expressly permits public funds or a private donation to replace a nonconforming copy; surplus copies must be donated onward
Defense / indemnity: No special defense/indemnity provision identified in the cited display section
State guidance: Source not located in this audit
Implementation: Blocked for named defendants
Court status: Judgment on appeal
Injunction scope: March 16 permanent injunction binds Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Siloam Springs, Conway and Lakeside defendant districts. Do not describe it as an automatic statewide injunction.
Federal circuit: Eighth
Latest filing / verified event: Latest verified public event: oral argument 2026-09-22 in 26-1722; latest docket filing not independently established
Supreme Court: No Supreme Court petition located for Stinson
Last verified: 2026-10-09

Arkansas Act 573 — approved text · Stinson — permanent-injunction opinion, Document 188 · Eighth Circuit — September 2026 oral arguments · Eighth Circuit — opinions for 26-1722

Alabama

EnactedRequired; future display start

Alabama’s effective date has passed, but the classroom display duty has a later start. The statute targets U.S. history classrooms in grades 5–12 and separately addresses common areas, with a K–4 exception and a donation contingency.

Law, funding, deadline and court fields

Law / bill: SB 99 / Act 2026-428
Law status: Enacted
Enacted: 2026-04-13
Effective: 2026-10-01
Display deadline / start: Display duty begins 2027-01-01, subject to available donations determined by State Superintendent
Schools: Schools under local boards of education; coverage follows §2(a)
Grades: Fifth–twelfth classrooms where United States history is routinely taught
Classrooms / common areas: Specified U.S. history classrooms plus an entryway/common area; common-area subdivision excludes any school serving K–4 students
Display rule: Required; future display start
Size and text: At least 11 × 14 inches; document layout approved by State Superintendent, prescribed heading/text/context
Historical context: Historical Truths heading; commandments, John Quincy Adams quotation, historical documents and acknowledgment of student/family faith choice
Donation condition: Subject to donated funds or displays, availability determined by State Superintendent
Public funding: Local boards are not required to spend their own funds; may accept donated funds/displays
Defense / indemnity: No special defense/indemnity provision identified in the cited display section
State guidance: State Superintendent approval and department free-resource duties are statutory. An approved statewide template and district-specific preparation record were not located in this audit.
Implementation: Required; future implementation date
Court status: No located challenge
Injunction scope: No order located in the sources audited; not an exhaustive docket search
Federal circuit: Eleventh
Latest filing / verified event: Not located
Supreme Court: No petition located in this audit
Last verified: 2026-10-09

Alabama SB 99 — enrolled Act 2026-428 · Alabama Legislature — SB 99 enacted history · Alabama Secretary of State — Act 2026-428

Tennessee

EnactedAuthorized, not required

The final enacted summary authorizes local boards and charter governing bodies to allow displays. Earlier Senate mandatory language was superseded through conference. Database-only coverage pending local implementation evidence.

Law, funding, deadline and court fields

Law / bill: HB 47 / Public Chapter 924 (2026)
Law status: Enacted
Enacted: 2026-05-07
Effective: 2026-07-01
Display deadline / start: No mandatory display deadline in the enacted authorization described by official history
Schools: Local education agencies and public charter schools
Grades: No narrower grade limit identified in official enacted summary
Classrooms / common areas: Prominent location in a school building
Display rule: Authorized, not required
Size and text: Final chapter details should be consulted; earlier mandatory Senate amendment is not the final law
Historical context: Authorization pairs Ten Commandments with specified Declaration and U.S. Constitution passages
Donation condition: Final operative donation detail not fully audited; no district transaction inferred
Public funding: Detailed final funding provisions not verified in this baseline
Defense / indemnity: No special defense/indemnity provision identified in the cited display section
State guidance: Source not located in this audit
Implementation: Authorized, not required
Court status: No located challenge
Injunction scope: No order located in the sources audited; not an exhaustive docket search
Federal circuit: Sixth
Latest filing / verified event: Not located
Supreme Court: No petition located in this audit
Last verified: 2026-10-09

Tennessee HB 47 — enacted history

North Dakota

EnactedAuthorized, not required

The current code gives boards authority to permit displays with other historical documents. It does not command each district to install them.

Law, funding, deadline and court fields

Law / bill: N.D.C.C. §15.1-09-33(35); §15.1-09-33.5
Law status: Enacted
Enacted: 2021 law; current code verified
Effective: Current code in force; original effective day not separately audited
Display deadline / start: No mandatory display deadline
Schools: Schools within authorizing school district
Grades: Not narrowed in cited authorization
Classrooms / common areas: School and classroom
Display rule: Authorized, not required
Size and text: No dimensions or prescribed wording in cited subsection
Historical context: Ten Commandments with other historical documents
Donation condition: No donation condition specified in cited subsection
Public funding: No special funding rule in cited authorization
Defense / indemnity: §15.1-09-33.5 provides specified school personnel/entities immunity from damages; this is not an assurance against federal constitutional relief
State guidance: Source not located in this audit
Implementation: Authorized, not required
Court status: No located challenge
Injunction scope: No order located in the sources audited; not an exhaustive docket search
Federal circuit: Eighth
Latest filing / verified event: Not located
Supreme Court: No petition located in this audit
Last verified: 2026-10-09

North Dakota Century Code ch. 15.1-09

South Dakota

EnactedAuthorized, not required

South Dakota permits contextual displays under equal-presentation conditions. Its separate national-motto mandate must not be counted as a Ten Commandments mandate.

Law, funding, deadline and court fields

Law / bill: S.D.C.L. §13-24-17.1 (2000 ch. 79)
Law status: Enacted
Enacted: 2000; current codification verified
Effective: Current code in force; original effective day not separately audited
Display deadline / start: No mandatory display deadline
Schools: Public schools
Grades: Not narrowed in cited authorization
Classrooms / common areas: Classrooms, school buildings and public school events
Display rule: Authorized, not required
Size and text: Same general manner/appearance as accompanying documents; cannot draw separate attention
Historical context: Alongside cultural, legal or historical documents influencing U.S. and South Dakota government
Donation condition: No donation condition specified in §13-24-17.1
Public funding: No special funding provision in this section; national-motto sections are separate
Defense / indemnity: No special defense/indemnity provision identified in the cited display section
State guidance: Source not located in this audit
Implementation: Authorized, not required
Court status: No located challenge
Injunction scope: No order located in the sources audited; not an exhaustive docket search
Federal circuit: Eighth
Latest filing / verified event: Not located
Supreme Court: No petition located in this audit
Last verified: 2026-10-09

South Dakota §13-24-17.1

Ohio

ProposedProposed

SB 34 passed the Senate November 19, 2025 and was referred to House Education February 4, 2026. It proposes at least four selected historical documents in grade 4–12 history/social-studies rooms, with donations. Ten Commandments is an option, not an individually mandatory selection. No enacted duty is established.

Law, funding, deadline and court fields

Law / bill: SB 34, 136th General Assembly
Law status: Proposed
Enacted: Not enacted in reviewed current record
Effective: Not applicable — proposal
Display deadline / start: Senate text says July 1, 2026, but bill remains unenacted; that text creates no current deadline
Schools: Proposed public-school historical-document displays
Grades: Proposed grades 4–12 history or social-studies classrooms
Classrooms / common areas: Proposed classroom displays; optional school-ground monuments
Display rule: Proposed
Size and text: Senate-passed proposal selects at least four listed documents; Ten Commandments is one option, not individually mandatory
Historical context: Proposed displays must be reasonably visible and accompanied by educational historical-importance description
Donation condition: Proposed duty applies on receipt of donated funds/displays; board need not accept conditional donations
Public funding: Proposal offers donated funding/displays to provide displays free of charge
Defense / indemnity: No special defense/indemnity provision identified in the cited display section
State guidance: Source not located in this audit
Implementation: Unknown
Court status: No located challenge
Injunction scope: No order located in the sources audited; not an exhaustive docket search
Federal circuit: Sixth
Latest filing / verified event: Not located
Supreme Court: No petition located in this audit
Last verified: 2026-10-09

Ohio SB 34 — current status · Ohio SB 34 — Senate-passed version

What each record contains

Law and enactment status; enacted/effective/display dates; schools, grades and rooms; required or authorized; dimensions/text/context; donations and public funds; AG defense; agency guidance; implementation; court status and injunction scope; federal circuit; latest verified filing/event; Supreme Court status; source links, tracker link and verification date.

Legal distinctions

Preliminary or permanent?

A preliminary injunction is interim relief. A permanent injunction follows a final adjudication, but can still be reviewed or stayed. Read the operative order, its date and the named defendants.

Facial or as applied?

A facial challenge attacks a law itself. An as-applied challenge addresses the law’s operation in a particular situation. Placement, design, accompanying material and use can affect that record.

Which places are bound?

A district-specific order is not automatically statewide. Circuit precedent and a Supreme Court ruling also have different reach. Stinson names six Arkansas defendant districts; Nathan is a Fifth Circuit judgment.

Has the Supreme Court agreed?

A certiorari petition asks for review. Docketing, a response request, an extension or an amicus brief does not establish a grant. The three petitions verified here remain pending at the baseline.

Status definitions

Law status

Enacted: Approved as law. Effective dates and display deadlines are separate fields.
Proposed: A bill, not an operative legal duty.
Vetoed: Governor rejected; record any override separately.
Failed/expired: Did not become law in the relevant legislative cycle.
Repealed: An enacted provision was later removed.
Unknown/not located: No adequate authority located to assign another law status.

Implementation status

Required and in effect: Legal display duty is operative, subject to funding conditions and applicable orders; not proof every classroom complies.
Required; future effective date: Law enacted but effective date has not arrived.
Required; future implementation date: Law is effective but display duty begins later, as in Alabama.
Authorized, not required: Local permission without a statewide duty to install.
Implementing: Official record describes a rollout, direction, distribution or installation in progress.
Confirmed implemented: A source establishes completion for an expressly defined location and date; not inferred from a donation.
Partially implemented: Source verifies some completed locations and identifies unfinished scope.
Implementation not located: No usable implementation record in the audit.
Blocked for named defendants: An order prohibits the specified defendants from implementation.
Statewide enforcement blocked: Use only if authoritative order establishes that scope.
Unknown: Available evidence does not resolve current implementation.

Court status

No located challenge: No challenge located within audited sources, not a guarantee none exists.
Complaint filed: Filing verified; allegations are not findings.
Preliminary injunction granted: Interim relief pending further adjudication; specify parties and date.
Preliminary injunction denied: Interim relief refused; not necessarily final merits judgment.
Permanent injunction granted: Final injunctive relief entered; may be appealed or stayed.
Judgment on appeal: Final judgment is under appellate review.
Appeal pending: Appellate proceeding unresolved in reviewed records.
Certiorari petition pending: Supreme Court review requested, not granted.
Certiorari granted: Supreme Court has agreed to review identified questions.
Certiorari denied: Review refused; not a Supreme Court endorsement of reasoning below.
Case dismissed: Claims disposed of; identify grounds and appeal status.
Remanded: Returned to lower court for further proceedings.
Unknown/not located: Current operative ruling not established.

Dated downloads

Download state CSV Download case CSV Download district research CSV Complete dated JSON

UTF-8 CSVs retain source URLs, full field values and verification dates. Unknowns are text labels, not zero values. Reuse should preserve source provenance and scope notes.

Methodology

This is an eight-state public-record audit dated October 9, 2026, not a 50-state census or a nationwide compliance survey. State coverage comprises Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, North Dakota, South Dakota and Ohio. District opportunities are a selected set in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas; Alabama district preparation sources were sought but not located at publishable depth.

Source order: enacted statute and current legislative history; operative court opinion/order and official docket; agency guidance; board minutes and district notices; party filings for allegations. News and advocacy were used to locate documents. Court-authored material hosted by counsel and board-authored legal notices are labeled by provenance. A party filing does not establish its factual allegations.

Every record keeps the law, local implementation and legal posture separate. A record’s verification date is when we checked its cited sources, not a new event date. “Not located” never means no guidance, no complaint, noncompliance or a closed case. Statutory deadlines remain distinct from donation receipt, board authorization and installed displays.

The court audit uses public opinions, Supreme Court dockets and the Eighth Circuit argument/opinion index; it is not a complete paid-docket review. Roth’s later operative order, fresh Galveston orders, Alabama’s approved template and current room inventories remain verification gaps. Future deadlines are labeled and no automatic update is implied.

Update log

October 9, 2026: Initial source-checked publication. Eight states, five case records, six district trackers and 18 ranked opportunities.

This is a dated research snapshot. Future updates require a new source check; no automatic monitoring is claimed.