Senate Bill 2531

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DISPLAY OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOMS; TO ESTABLISH PARAMETERS FOR THE DISPLAY; TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR SUCH DISPLAYS; TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE INCLUDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TEN COMMANDMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature finds that the Ten Commandments represent a key part of the historical and moral foundation of the legal and educational traditions of the United States. These values have significantly influenced the development of law and government, and their display in public institutions is intended to serve an educational purpose in line with American history.

(2) (a) Effective January 1, 2026, all public school classrooms in the State of Mississippi, from kindergarten through twelfth (12th) grade, shall prominently display the Ten Commandments.

(b) The display must meet the following criteria:

(i) The Ten Commandments shall be presented on a poster or framed document of at least eleven (11) inches by fourteen (14) inches;

(ii) The text shall be in a large, legible font; and

(iii) Each display shall be accompanied by a four-paragraph context statement explaining the historical role of the Ten Commandments in American public education, which shall be provided by the Mississippi Department of Education.

(3) No public funds shall be used to create or maintain the displays. Schools may accept donations of posters, frames or monetary gifts to support the displays. Such donations must comply with all applicable state regulations.

(4) Public schools may choose to display other historically significant documents in conjunction with the Ten Commandments, including:

(a) The Mayflower Compact;

(b) The Declaration of Independence; and

(5) If any provision in this section is found unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.