HB2696 - Relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.

  89R12715 ANG-F     By: Noble H.B. No. 2696       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school   classrooms.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 1, Education Code, is amended by adding   Section 1.0041 to read as follows:           Sec.   1.0041.     DISPLAY OF TEN COMMANDMENTS. (a) Subject to   Subsection (e), a public elementary or secondary school shall   display in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school a   durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments that meets the   requirements of Subsection (b).           (b)     A poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments   described by Subsection (a) must:                 (1)     include only the text of the Ten Commandments as   provided by Subsection (c) in a size and typeface that is legible to   a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom in which   the poster or framed copy is displayed; and                 (2)  be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall.           (c)     The text of the poster or framed copy of the Ten   Commandments described by Subsection (a) must read as follows:   "The Ten Commandments   I AM the LORD thy God.   Thou shalt have no other gods before me.   Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images.   Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.   Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.   Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the   land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.   Thou shalt not kill.   Thou shalt not commit adultery.   Thou shalt not steal.   Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.   Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.   Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor   his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy   neighbor's."           (d)     A public elementary or secondary school in which each   classroom does not include a poster or framed copy of the Ten   Commandments as required by Subsection (a) must:                 (1)     accept any offer of a privately donated poster or   framed copy of the Ten Commandments provided that the poster or   copy:                       (A)  meets the requirements of Subsection (b); and                       (B)  does not contain any additional content; and                 (2)     display the poster or framed copy as specified in   Subsection (a).           (e)     A public elementary or secondary school in which each   classroom does not include a poster or framed copy of the Ten   Commandments as required by Subsection (a) may, but is not required   to, purchase posters or copies that meet the requirements of   Subsection (b) using district funds.           (f)     Notwithstanding any other law, a public elementary or   secondary school is not exempt from this section.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   school year.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.