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Senate passes bill directing schools to display Ten Commandments with founding documents, conditioned on donations
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Summary
The Alabama Senate passed SB 99 on March 31, 2026, requiring local school boards to display a poster that includes the Ten Commandments alongside founding documents in U.S. history classrooms and at least one common area, subject to the availability of donated displays or funds and accompanied by a disclaimer that the state is not establishing religion.
The Alabama Senate on March 31, 2026, passed Senate Bill 99, which requires local school boards to display a poster titled "The Ten Commandments and America's Founding Documents" in classrooms that routinely teach U.S. history for grades five through 12 and in at least one common area for those schools, beginning January 1, 2027, subject to availability of donated displays or donated funds.
Sponsor Senator Kelly framed the measure as historical and educational rather than religious, saying the poster presents the Ten Commandments alongside the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and includes a neutral academic disclaimer stating that Alabama is not establishing a religion. "This is not a mandate for religious instruction," Kelly said on the floor.
The bill text (read at length) lists required content, sets minimum poster size and directs the State Department of Education to identify free resources for local boards. The act provides that the display requirement is conditioned on the availability of donated exhibits or funds so it is not an unfunded mandate on local districts; the bill also authorizes the State Board of Education to adopt implementing rules. The bill sets the act’s effective date as October 1, 2026 (text: "this act shall become effective 10/01/2026").
A long roll call on the floor recorded the result: the clerk announced "27 ayes, 6 nays," and the presiding officer declared the bill passed. The transcript shows debate and a Committee on Rules petition to cease debate before the roll call. The bill’s sponsor cited U.S. Supreme Court precedent allowing displays in historical or educational contexts and said the statute was drafted to include a disclaimer and contextual presentation he said would reduce legal risk.
Supporters described the proposal as restoring historical context about sources that influenced American law. Opponents raised constitutional concerns during debate (transcript) but the sponsor and floor supporters maintained the display is educational, not devotional. The transcript does not record subsequent litigation or administrative guidance; implementation depends on donated displays or funds and on rules to be adopted by the State Board of Education.
