Conference Committee adopts conference report on HB 47/SB 303 to allow permissive displays in schools

The Conference Committee on House Bill 47 and Senate Bill 303 voted to adopt a conference report that would make displaying the Ten Commandments and certain founding documents a permissive option for local school authorities, the committee's chair said.

Chair Representative Hale said the draft changes a prior mandatory requirement to a permissive standard, arguing the shift puts the state in a "much better posture" legally. "That, I think puts us in a much better, posture and puts us in a better position," Hale said during the committee's debate. Legal services circulated the drafted language to members before the vote.

Katie from legal services told the committee the proposed report includes language used in the Supreme Court's Van Orden decision and a recent Fifth Circuit Texas decision. "The text that is, for the Ten Commandments in the Van Orden case and the 5th Circuit Texas case decision both use the versions that's provided in the proposed conference committee report," Katie said.

After a brief recess and discussion, a committee member moved to accept the conference committee report and the motion was seconded. The clerk's roll call recorded five ayes and one not voting; the chair declared the bill passes. The committee agreed to have the report drawn up and signed by members before adjourning.

The committee's action resolves competing House and Senate language by retaining a permissive standard and incorporating Supreme Court–tested wording; members said the change aims to reduce the state's exposure to constitutional challenge while leaving display decisions to local school boards.