House committee advances resolution to return Ten Commandments monument to Capitol grounds

The House Committee on State Government voted to advance House Joint Resolution 15, as amended, to return a granite Ten Commandments monument donated to the Commonwealth in 1971 by the Fraternal Order of Eagles to the new State Capitol grounds in Frankfort.

Sponsor Representative Shane Baker of the 80th District told the committee the monument is a piece of state history and said restoring it is “historic restoration and acknowledges the history and tradition of the Commonwealth and our nation.” Baker described the 1971 donation, its removal in the 1980s for a construction project and subsequent litigation that led to the monument’s display in Hopkinsville.

Baker framed the resolution around recent U.S. Supreme Court shifts away from the Lemon v. Kurtzman test and toward an analysis that weighs historical practice and tradition. He told the committee that the 2022 Supreme Court decisions have “abrogated” the old three‑part Lemon standard and said the resolution advances a history‑and‑tradition approach.

Committee members asked about placement, historical context and religious‑establishment concerns. Representative Hancock, who represents Frankfort, asked where the monument would be located; Baker said it originally stood near the floral clock and suggested Monument Park — near State Street and Shelby Street — as a likely site for historic pieces. Representative Layman urged the committee to include the Fraternal Order of Eagles’ history in materials describing the monument, noting the organization distributed dozens of similar markers around the country in the mid‑20th century.

Several members expressed reservations about church‑and‑state separation or asked that the resolution leave room for other faiths to be represented. Representative Donworth asked whether the committee would be open to amendments “that would leave the door open for organizations of other faiths to provide similar types of monuments.” Representative Watkins, who identified himself as clergy, said the question gave him “a little heartburn” about separation concerns and asked for further conversation before a floor vote. Representative Decker said she supported the historical framing but wanted to work with the sponsor on a floor amendment to ensure people of other faiths see themselves represented on the Capitol grounds.

A committee substitute was moved and seconded before the hearing on the resolution; the committee then voted to advance HJR 15 as amended. The secretary first recorded 16 yes votes, 1 no and 2 pass votes. After returning to regular order, Representative Ramer asked to have his presence recorded and to record a yes vote on HJR 15.

The committee reported the resolution favorably to the House floor for further consideration.

The committee hearing contained extended discussion about historical context and legal precedent rather than immediate implementation details such as exact placement plans or floor amendment language; members who asked for further work said they expect to negotiate changes before the measure reaches the full House.