Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is calling on public school districts to begin allowing voluntary student prayer and religious text readings during class time under newly effective legislation.

According to Washington Times, with Senate Bill 11 now in effect, Paxton has pledged legal support to districts enforcing the bill and has also encouraged public schools to display the Ten Commandments, even as part of that effort faces legal challenges.

On Monday, Senate Bill 11 officially became law, enabling independent school boards across Texas to institute designated in-class time for voluntary prayer and religious readings. If districts choose to adopt the policy, they will need to vote on it publicly within six months of the law’s enactment.

As stipulated in the bill, all student involvement in these activities must be based on parental consent. This measure aims to allow religious expression in public schools while maintaining parental oversight of students’ participation.

Legal groups have already filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Senate Bill 11, raising concerns over its potential conflict with federal law that protects the separation of church and state.

Attorney General affirms his backing for prayer directives

In response to the lawsuits, Attorney General Paxton issued a press release on Tuesday affirming his willingness to defend any Texas school district that moves forward with implementing the new prayer policy allowed by Senate Bill 11.

Posting on social media platform X, Paxton stated he is “encouraging Texas schools to begin the legal process of putting prayer back in the classroom,” and specifically suggested the Lord’s Prayer as a possible example.

Further emphasizing his stance, Paxton claimed that facilitating prayer, displaying the Ten Commandments, and enabling religious expression in public schools align with the state’s educational values and heritage.

Bill requiring Ten Commandments display remains disputed

Paxton’s support for religious expression in schools also extends to Senate Bill 10, which requires classrooms to post a copy of the Ten Commandments. This mandate has been met with court opposition in parts of Texas.

In August, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery from the Western District of Texas temporarily barred certain school districts from enforcing the measure, citing a potential infringement on families’ religious freedoms.

Judge Biery expressed concern that forcing the Ten Commandments into the classroom could place an undue burden on children and compromise parents’ rights to guide their children’s spiritual upbringing.

ACLU files suit challenging S.B. 10 requirements

The American Civil Liberties Union subsequently challenged the enforcement of Senate Bill 10 in federal court, representing parents with a range of beliefs—including interfaith and nonreligious backgrounds—who argue the law is unconstitutional.

In his response, Paxton noted that despite ongoing litigation, schools that are not currently part of the suit “must abide by S.B. 10” and should move forward with the required display of the Ten Commandments.

He further criticized efforts opposing the law, stating that “woke radicals” are attempting to erase what he called the country’s foundational values and history, and vowed continued legal support for faith-based policies in schools.

State pushes ahead despite judicial obstacles

While the federal court’s injunction has halted enforcement of Senate Bill 10 in specific areas, the state’s top legal officer signaled that Texas will continue encouraging districts not bound by the decision to proceed with religious displays.

Paxton argues that the principles outlined in the Ten Commandments are deeply connected to the country's legal and cultural traditions. “From the beginning,” he wrote, they have been part of America’s historic identity.

The unfolding legal battle over both Senate Bill 11 and Senate Bill 10 highlights a broader national debate about the role of religion in public education, where constitutional rights and cultural heritage often intersect.