Texas to Check Whether School Districts Are Complying With Laws on Ten Commandments, Prayer Time

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday an investigation into dozens of the state’s independent school districts to confirm compliance with two laws concerning religious displays and prayer periods.

The districts must adhere to two laws passed last year: Senate Bill 10, which requires display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms when donated copies within state specifications are provided, and Senate Bill 11, which calls on school boards to vote on creating time for prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts.

“I will always fight for students’ fundamental right to pray in our schools and work to ensure that Texas kids are able to learn from the Ten Commandments daily,” Paxton said in a statement. “Texas schools districts must comply with Texas law by displaying the Ten Commandments and taking a school board vote regarding the implementation of prayer time in schools. I will never stop defending our students’ religious freedom and the moral foundation of our nation.”

The investigation, outlined in a news release from Paxton’s office, requires listed districts to submit documentation demonstrating whether the Ten Commandments are displayed and proof of a board vote on prayer implementation under SB 11. Both measures passed during the 89th Legislative Session and took effect Sept. 1, 2025.

Many of the districts required to submit documentation were involved in lawsuits challenging SB 10.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit maintained the constitutionality of SB 10 in a case litigated by Paxton, allowing statewide implementation after lower court challenges, according to public records.

The appeals court made the ruling in a split decision that overturned a lower court block, affirming the law ordering donated Ten Commandments posters to be readable from anywhere in the classroom.

A federal judge had previously directed certain districts to remove displays, citing Establishment Clause concerns, but the Fifth Circuit’s decision permitted the requirement to proceed.

SB 11 orders school boards to take a recorded vote on implementing designated time for voluntary prayer and religious reading. Paxton’s office has previously called on districts to start the process of putting prayer back in schools, consistent with the law’s provisions.

Public documents from the attorney general’s office state that boards must act within specified timelines once the law is in effect. The current investigation would confirm compliance through production of board records and related policies.

Paxton’s announcement points to a lack of adherence by certain districts, such as Galveston Independent School District, which Paxton’s office has sued in separate actions over refusal to display the Ten Commandments.

Critics of the laws argue they raise constitutional questions about separation of church and state. Supporters, including Paxton, say they protect religious freedom and reflect the state’s moral heritage. The attorney general has said the measures are re-implementing historical practices in education.

The listed districts are attended by hundreds of thousands of Texas students across urban, suburban, and rural parts of the state.