HB555 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Ten Commandments, display of on state property and at public schools, authorized, const. amend.

Summary

HB555 asks voters to amend the Alabama Constitution to allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed on state property and on property owned or administered by public schools or public bodies, with display rules and funding limits.

What This Bill Does

If approved, the amendment would let the state and public schools or public bodies display the Ten Commandments on their property. The display must follow constitutional requirements and can be combined with historical or educational items. It also clarifies worship rights, prohibits forced attendance or support for worship or ministers, protects civil and political rights regardless of religion, and bans public funds from defending the amendment's constitutionality.

Who It Affects

• State government and properties would be eligible to display the Ten Commandments.
• Public schools and other public bodies would be eligible to display the Ten Commandments on their property.
• Individuals' rights to worship according to their conscience would be protected, and people could not be compelled to attend or support a place of worship or a minister.
• Taxpayers and public funds would be affected by the prohibition on using public funds to defend the amendment's constitutionality.

Key Provisions

• Property belonging to the state may be used to display the Ten Commandments; public school or public body property may display them as well, in a display that complies with constitutional rules and may be intermingled with educational items.
• Every person shall be free to worship according to conscience; no one shall be forced to attend or to contribute to any place of worship or to pay for a minister’s support.
• Civil and political rights, privileges, and capacities of no person shall be diminished or enlarged because of religious beliefs.
• No public funds may be spent to defend the constitutionality of this amendment.
• An election date is specified for voting on the amendment, with standard ballot language for Yes/No.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments