A legal challenge against a Texas law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments has expanded, with a coalition of civil rights organizations filing a new lawsuit against 14 additional school districts. This action follows a federal judge's decision in August to temporarily block the law's implementation in 11 other districts, citing likely constitutional violations.
Key Takeaways
- A second lawsuit has been filed against 14 more Texas school districts regarding the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
- This follows a temporary injunction issued in August that blocked 11 other districts from implementing the law, known as Senate Bill 10.
- The lawsuits argue that the mandatory display violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
- Some districts, like Conroe ISD, proceeded with displaying posters after guidance from the Texas Attorney General, despite the initial court ruling.
Background on Senate Bill 10
Earlier this year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 10 into law. The legislation mandates that every public school classroom in the state must display a poster of the Ten Commandments. The law quickly drew criticism from civil liberties groups who argued it infringes upon the separation of church and state.
In response, organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit on behalf of Texas families from various religious and non-religious backgrounds. Their goal was to prevent the law from taking effect.
The First Amendment and Public Schools
The legal challenges to SB 10 center on the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. The Establishment Clause prohibits the government from establishing a religion, while the Free Exercise Clause protects citizens' right to practice their religion as they please, without government interference. Courts have consistently interpreted these clauses to mean public schools cannot endorse or promote any particular religion.
Initial Court Ruling Blocks Law in 11 Districts
In August 2025, the initial lawsuit resulted in a significant development. U.S. Judge Fred Biery issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily halting the enforcement of SB 10 in the 11 school districts named as defendants. These districts were located in some of Texas's largest metropolitan areas.
In his ruling, Judge Biery stated that the law "likely violates both the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment” to the U.S. Constitution. This decision set a legal precedent for future challenges to the law across the state.
"This (new) lawsuit is a continuation of our work to defend the First Amendment and ensure that government officials stay out of personal family decisions," said Chloe Kempf, a staff attorney at the ACLU Texas. "All students – regardless of their race or religious background – should feel accepted and free to be themselves in Texas public schools."
Legal Battle Expands to 14 More Districts
The new lawsuit, filed on Monday, September 22, 2025, targets an additional 14 school districts. These districts are spread across several regions, including the Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio areas, as well as the Rio Grande Valley.
According to a news release from the plaintiffs' representatives, this second legal action was necessary because these districts either displayed the Ten Commandments posters or indicated their intention to do so, despite Judge Biery's earlier ruling that the law is likely unconstitutional.
The Case of Conroe ISD
Conroe ISD, a district north of Houston and one of the defendants in the new lawsuit, provides a clear example of the ongoing conflict. Initially, the district paused its plan to display the posters after the temporary injunction was issued against the other 11 districts, stating it was awaiting "further guidance."
However, the district reversed its decision a week later. This change in course came after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a statement encouraging all districts not bound by the injunction to comply with SB 10 and display the posters. Conroe ISD then proceeded, acknowledging that future court action might require their removal but stating its intent to "continue to comply with the law as it stands."
A Statewide Push
Following the August injunction, the ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State sent letters to all public school districts in Texas. The letters warned them that they have an "independent obligation to respect students' and families' constitutional rights" and argued that the U.S. Constitution supersedes state law, making compliance with S.B. 10 a violation of those rights.
Multiple Legal Fronts
The legal landscape surrounding SB 10 is complex, with multiple active cases. Attorney General Ken Paxton has appealed Judge Biery's injunction, calling the ruling "flawed." His office is representing the school districts named as defendants in the lawsuits.
Separately, a Dallas-based activist group, the Next Generation Action Network Legal Advocacy Fund, has filed another lawsuit seeking to block the law's implementation in several North Texas school districts. That case, which names three districts along with the Texas Education Agency as defendants, is also pending in federal court.
This issue is not unique to Texas. Similar laws passed in other states have also faced immediate legal opposition.
- Louisiana: A law requiring the Ten Commandments in schools was recently blocked by a federal judge.
- Arkansas: A similar measure has also been at least partially blocked by court action.
These cases across different states highlight a national debate over the role of religion in public education, with the First Amendment's separation of church and state at its core. The outcome of the lawsuits in Texas will be closely watched and could have significant implications for public schools nationwide.