A Ten Commandments monument to stand outside the State Capitol in 2005 in Austin, Texas.
Jana Birchum/Getty Images
CNN —
The Republican-controlled Texas State House failed to advance a controversial bill on Tuesday that would have required public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
Senate Bill 1515 was effectively killed early Wednesday morning after House lawmakers did not meet a midnight deadline for a vote that would have advanced the bill for a third and final passage.
The bill, authored by Republican state Sen. Phil King, requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in a “conspicuous place” in each classroom in a “size and typeface that is legible to a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom,” CNN previously reported.
King has previously said the bill will help restore religious liberties “that were lost” and it “reminds students all across Texas of the importance of a fundamental foundation” of America.
The legislative session ends on May 29, and there is still time for legislators to use procedural tactics to bring up the bill again. But it now faces a more difficult path.
The legislation has faced criticism after passing the state Senate last month.
“Parents should be able to decide what religious materials their child should learn, not the (Texas legislature),” the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas said in a statement last month.
It isn’t the only legislation in Texas relating to religion and school to pass through. Senate Bill 1396, which would require schools to allow time for students and employees to pray and read the Bible on each school day, was also passed by the Senate last month.
My least favorite word is they will or will not allow me.
A commandment in school is another level of fascism.
Welcome news, but it should never have been a thing in the first place. There is something seriously wrong with Texas.
It’s more like Texass.
Advance something that shows the Golden Rule is common to all cultures.
Just heard a new term for these book-banning, narrow-minded assholes, who are usually white moms- Klanned Karenhood... I think it's so fitting...
..
When will they ever learn that the Ten Commandments have nothing at all to do with schools or being taught anything in todays modern world. Your church does not control your education. Unfortunately this is politics 2024 in the making.
They are congentially incapable of learning.
Note - it didn't get to a vote, so time expired on it. Repucks way of stopping a bill they know is unlawful and will cost the state millions to defend, while allowing them to tell their stupid ass base that they supported it.v
Because they love to pretend they're religious so their base that pretends to be religious, can fake outrage over the religious bill not passing. It's hard to digest this much hypocrisy.