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Lawsuit challenges Texas law mandating Ten Commandments in classrooms
The suit, filed by Americans United, is brought on behalf of 16 families whose children attend Texas public schools.
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Pranavi Sharma - Tue, 08, Jul 2025
- 02:22 EDT
- 55
Stock image. / Shutterstock
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, along with several civil liberties groups, filed a federal lawsuit on July 2 challenging a new Texas law that requires public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
The lawsuit, filed in the Western District of Texas, comes in response to Senate Bill 10 (S.B. 10), which was signed into law in June and is set to take effect on Sept.1. The complaint argues that the law imposes a religious viewpoint on all 5.5 million students enrolled in Texas public schools, many of whom come from diverse faith backgrounds or hold no religious beliefs at all.
ALSO READ: Texas faith leaders oppose Ten Commandments display mandate in public schools
The lawsuit is brought on behalf of 16 families whose children attend Texas public schools. The plaintiffs represent a range of religious identities, including Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Unitarian Universalist, and non-religious families.
The complaint states that S.B. 10 requires students to be exposed daily to a religious text that reads, in part, “I AM the LORD thy God” and “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Plaintiffs say this language marginalizes children whose beliefs differ and makes them feel excluded in their own classrooms.
“S.B. 10 coerces children to view, venerate, and obey commandments that are against their beliefs,” the complaint argues. “The displays interfere with parents’ ability to direct their children’s religious upbringing.”
The plaintiffs contend that the law violates the Establishment Clause by adopting a state-endorsed religious text, and the Free Exercise Clause by interfering with the right of families to practice—or not practice—religion freely. The groups are seeking a court judgment declaring the law unconstitutional and are requesting an injunction to block its implementation.
The case, Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights ISD, is being closely watched as a test of the limits of state-sponsored religious expression in public education.
HAF weighs in
The Hindu American Foundation, one of the prominent national organizations advocating for Hindu civil rights, expressed support for the lawsuit on social media.
“HAF supports the lawsuit challenging Texas’s Ten Commandments law,” the organization wrote on X. “Hindu public school students should not feel ‘excluded and uncomfortable in their classrooms’ because of their beliefs. Public classrooms must remain inclusive for all.”
HAF supports the lawsuit challenging Texas’s Ten Commandments law. Hindu public school students should not feel “excluded and uncomfortable in their classrooms” because of their beliefs. Public classrooms must remain inclusive for all.https://t.co/7vTtgDaqkL
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) July 7, 2025
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