Bill > HB709

This bill allows public school boards and charter school governing boards in Mississippi to display the Ten Commandments in a prominent location within each school facility by January 1, 2026. The display must be on a poster or framed document at least 11x14 inches, with the Ten Commandments text as the central focus in a large, easily readable font. The bill includes the specific text of the Ten Commandments and requires a historical context statement explaining the Ten Commandments' role in early American education, citing their presence in textbooks like the New England Primer and McGuffey Readers. Schools may also optionally display other historical documents like the Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, and Northwest Ordinance alongside the Ten Commandments. The legislation emphasizes that schools are not required to spend their own funds on the displays and can accept donated displays or funds. The State Board of Education must create rules for implementing the display, and the State Department of Education must identify and list free resources for schools to comply with the requirement. The bill cites Supreme Court cases that have previously allowed Ten Commandments displays on government property and argues that including the Ten Commandments in education reflects the nation's historical and cultural traditions. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0709.xml