SB166 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Keith KelleySenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Ten Commandments, required to be displayed in common area of public K-12 schools and public institutions of higher education

Summary

SB166 would require Alabama's public K-12 schools and public colleges to display the Ten Commandments with a context statement in a common area, using donated or free resources rather than state funds.

What This Bill Does

If passed, local boards of education would be required to display the Ten Commandments and a context statement in a common area of every K-12 school. The governing bodies of public institutions of higher education would require each institution under their jurisdiction to do the same in a common area. The displays must be posters or framed documents at least 11 by 14 inches, with the Ten Commandments text as the central focus in a large, readable font, and may include additional historical documents. The bill allows donations to cover display costs, directs the Department of Education to identify free resources, and requires rules to be adopted by the State Board of Education and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education; the act becomes effective October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Local boards of education (K-12) would be required to display the Ten Commandments and a context statement in common areas of each school, using donated or free resources when possible.
• Governing bodies of public institutions of higher education would be required to ensure that each institution under their jurisdiction displays the Ten Commandments in a common area, with similar funding and resource provisions.

Key Provisions

• K-12 display requirement: By January 1, 2026, each local board of education must display the Ten Commandments in every school, in an entryway or other common area, on a poster or framed document at least 11 by 14 inches, with the text as specified and in a large, readable font.
• Higher education display requirement: By January 1, 2026, the governing body of each public institution of higher education must require each institution to display the Ten Commandments in a common area, with the same size and readability standards as for K-12, and the Ten Commandments text to be central.
• Text and context: The display must include the Ten Commandments text and a context statement about the history of the Ten Commandments in American public education.
• Optional additional documents: Local boards may also display the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance along with the Ten Commandments.
• Funding and resources: The display is not required to be funded by state money; donations or donated displays may be used to cover costs. The State Department of Education must identify free resources and list them for schools to use. The State Board of Education and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education must adopt rules to implement these provisions.
• Effective date: The act becomes effective on October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education