Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Galveston Independent School District for refusing to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, escalating the state’s enforcement of a controversial new law that has already faced multiple legal challenges.
The lawsuit comes after the Galveston ISD board voted against implementing Senate Bill 10, which requires public schools across Texas to display the biblical Ten Commandments on posters in “a prominent location in every classroom.”
Religious Displays Now Mandated By Law
SB 10, which recently took effect, specifies that schools must hang durable posters measuring at least 16 by 20 inches featuring the religious text. “America is a Christian nation and it is imperative that we display the very values and timeless truths that have historically guided the success of our country,” Paxton stated when announcing the legal action.
The attorney general, who is scheduled to speak at multiple Turning Point USA events at Texas universities in November 2025, has taken a hard line on enforcement. He specifically noted that Galveston ISD is not among districts that have been temporarily exempted from the requirement by federal court orders.
Why is Paxton so adamant? In his statements, he pointed to what he called a “misconception” that the phrase “separation of church and state” appears in the U.S. Constitution, and pledged full enforcement for all districts not specifically exempted by courts.
Constitutional Questions Loom
The law has already sparked significant pushback. Families representing multiple faiths and nonreligious households have filed lawsuits arguing that SB 10 violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which prohibits government from favoring one religion over others.
Critics also contend the mandate infringes on parental rights regarding religious education. These lawsuits have already resulted in some districts receiving temporary exemptions through court orders, creating an uneven implementation landscape across the state.
The Galveston case represents a direct confrontation between state authority and local school governance. Should the district continue to resist, it could face significant legal penalties under Paxton’s enforcement actions.
As this battle unfolds in Texas courtrooms, it highlights broader tensions between religious expression in public institutions and constitutional protections — tensions that continue to divide communities and challenge the boundaries of state power in educational settings.
