Alabama public schools will soon be required to display the Ten Commandments in certain classrooms under a new law signed by Gov. Kay Ivey earlier this month, expected to take effect Oct. 1.
Senate Bill 99 (SB99), passed by Alabama legislature and signed into law on April 13, requires that the Ten Commandments be displayed in a state‑approved poster or framed document throughout public school classrooms. The displays must be shown in fifth through 12th grade classrooms where U.S. history is taught, as well as in common areas like cafeterias and school libraries.
Displays must be at least 11 inches by 14 inches, and the layouts and designs would have to be approved by the school's superintendent. The law specifies that schools are not required to use public funds to comply, but instead displays must be donated, and the requirement will only take effect if donations are available.
The bill writes that the Ten Commandments are a foundational historical document that has “shaped Western Civilization and ultimately the founding of the United States.”
Senate Bill 99
Further, the text describes that the Ten Commandments have historical significance, describing them as one of the foundations of the United States legal system. It frames the required displays as part of an effort to emphasize historical context rather than just promoting religious practice.
Opponents of the bill, like American Historical Association (AHA) and Democratic legislators, have raised concerns about its constitutionality. AHA sent letters to Alabama lawmakers urging them to reject SB99 and its companion bill because the legislation promotes a "misleading account of American religious history." Other arguments state that requiring religious text in public school classrooms could violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which prohibits government endorsement of religion.
The legislation addresses concerns similar to those stating that “references to God and religion in public documents and other public contexts did not end at the founding but rather have occurred throughout our nation's history without any serious claim that such references violate the Establishment Clause.”
Supporters and sponsors of the bill include Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, and Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Huntsville. Both Kelley and Gidley describe the measure as focused on historical context, as the commandments are a founding document and a principle of United States history.
Similar measures have been introduced in other states in recent years, including Louisiana in 2024, followed by Arkansas and Texas. Alabama is the most recent state to adopt such a requirement.
In a statement following the bill’s signing, Ivey explained her support for the measure.
"In Alabama, we proudly remember that we live in one nation under God,” Ivey said. “The Ten Commandments — like the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights — are critical to understanding the founding of our country, especially as we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is of the utmost importance Alabama’s children understand the history of this great country we call home. That absolutely includes a foundational document like the Ten Commandments.”
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