The law, which goes into effect on Sept. 1, requires classrooms to display a poster or framed English translation of the commandments that is at least 16-by-20 inches and is able to be read from anywhere in the classroom.
Texas has more than 5.5 million students throughout its more than 9,000 public schools.
Supporters of the Texas legislation say the Ten Commandments are a key part of the foundation of the United States’ judicial and educational systems and should be displayed.
“The focus of this bill is to look at what is historically important to our nation educationally and judicially,” said Texas state Rep. Candy Noble, a Republican and co-sponsor of the bill, after it passed the House.
Opponents, including some Christian and other faith leaders, say the Ten Commandments and prayer measures infringe on others’ religious freedom.
The bill, SB 10, was among more than 300 that Abbott signed on June 20.
A similar law in Louisiana was blocked on June 20 after a federal appeals court ruled it to be unconstitutional. Arkansas also has a similar law that is set to take effect in August, and is currently being challenged in federal court.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has said her office is prepared to take the matter all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The American Civil Liberties Union has already said it will challenge the Texas law, citing a U.S. Supreme Court precedent by the Stone v. Graham ruling.
In that 5–4 ruling in 1980, the Supreme Court held that a Kentucky statute mandating the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms was unconstitutional because it lacked a secular legislative purpose, violating the establishment clause of the First Amendment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
