Texas School Districts Blocking Ten Commandments; Houston Area Tops List

August 20, 2025 – A federal judge has temporarily blocked 11 Texas school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms, halting enforcement of a new state law, Senate Bill 10, that was set to take effect Sept. 1. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ruled Wednesday that the law likely violates the First Amendment’s Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses.

The injunction follows a lawsuit filed by 16 Texas families, represented by the ACLU, ACLU of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Plaintiffs argued that the law imposed religious beliefs on public school students. Judge Biery agreed, noting that even passive displays could prompt questions that educators might feel compelled to answer.

The ruling affects major school districts in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, including Houston ISD and Cy-Fair ISD. Religious groups behind the poster campaign say they will continue delivering Ten Commandments posters to smaller districts not named in the lawsuit.

Here is the list so far.

Alamo Heights Independent School District

North East Independent School District

Lackland Independent School District

Northside Independent School District

Austin Independent School District

Lake Travis Independent School District

Dripping Springs Independent School District

Houston Independent School District

Fort Bend Independent School District

Cypress‑Fairbanks Independent School District (often abbreviated Cy‑Fair ISD)