Over the summer, the Texas Legislature passed a new law – Senate Bill 10 – requiring Texas public schools to display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in classrooms if the items are donated by an individual or organization. SB 10 went into effect on September 1, 2025, and mandates that public schools must accept and display the poster or framed copy as long as they meet the legal requirements.

The law states:

• A public elementary or secondary school shall display in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments that meets the requirements.
• A poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments described must: include only the text of the Ten Commandments as provided in a size and typeface that is legible to a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom in which the poster or framed copy is displayed.
• It must be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall.

A federal district court issued a preliminary injunction last week regarding SB 10. This injunction only applies to the districts named in the lawsuit (Alamo Heights ISD, North East ISD, Lackland ISD, Northside ISD, Austin ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Dripping Springs ISD, Houston ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Cypress Fairbanks ISD and Plano ISD). Since New Braunfels ISD was not a Defendant in that lawsuit, the injunction does not apply, and state law still requires us to comply with SB 10.

NBISD has received donations from a private organization that provided posters in packs of 30 for various campuses. In accordance with the new state law, NBISD has begun distributing the posters to classrooms at those campuses.

NBISD is not using public funds for the purchase of these posters or framed copies. All displayed posters or copies have been provided through private donations and meet the requirements as outlined in the new law.

“NBISD understands that staff and community members may hold a variety of personal views on this issue,” said NBISD Superintendent Dr. Laurelyn Arterbury. “This law does not have an instructional component. Our responsibility as a district is to comply with the law and work with principals to coordinate placement of posters only.”

If additional posters are received, NBISD will continue to coordinate with campus principals and will provide updates to staff and families, needed. The entire bill with the exact wording of the Ten Commandments can be found here.