HB486 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

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

Summary

HB486 would propose a constitutional amendment to allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed on state property and on property owned or administered by public schools or public bodies, while protecting religious freedom and restricting public funds from defending the amendment.

What This Bill Does

If approved by voters, the amendment would let the state and public schools/public bodies display the Ten Commandments on their property. It would affirm individuals' freedom to worship according to their conscience and prohibit compelling anyone to attend or fund religious worship or a minister. It would guarantee that civil and political rights are not tied to a person’s religious beliefs, and it would prohibit public funds from being used to defend the amendment's constitutionality. The display would need to meet constitutional requirements and could be integrated with educational or historical material.

Who It Affects

• State property owners and administrators, including state agencies and public schools or public bodies, would be authorized to display the Ten Commandments on their property.
• Citizens and taxpayers would experience religious freedom protections and would be affected by the prohibition on using public funds to defend the amendment.

Key Provisions

• Property belonging to the state may be used to display the Ten Commandments, and public schools/public bodies may display them on property they own or administer.
• Every person may worship according to conscience; no one shall be compelled to attend or to contribute to worship or support a minister.
• Civil and political rights, privileges, and capacities shall not be diminished or enlarged due to a person’s religious beliefs.
• No public funds may be expended in defense of the constitutionality of this amendment.
• The Ten Commandments must be displayed in a manner that complies with constitutional requirements, such as being intermingled with historical or educational items.

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