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Read. Follow. Verify.Enacted
Alabama requires public schools to display Ten Commandments posters in history classrooms and common areas starting in 2027
Original title: Ten Commandments; required to be displayed in certain public schools, subject to the availability of donations
Last action · April 13, 2026: EnactedSponsor: Keith Kelley
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
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What This Bill Does
Beginning January 1, 2027, local school boards in Alabama must display posters or framed documents containing the Ten Commandments and foundational historical texts in every fifth through twelfth-grade United States history classroom and at least one common area in schools serving grades five and above, subject to the availability of donated funds or displays.
Why it matters
Local school boards, educators, and students in fifth through twelfth grades face new display mandates and curriculum integration requirements without mandatory expenditure of local education funds.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
local board of education
Local boards of education must ensure posters are displayed in eligible classrooms and common areas subject to donation availability.
Directly affected
fifth through twelfth grade students
Students in fifth through twelfth-grade history classrooms and school common areas will encounter the posted displays.
Directly affected
State Department of Education
The department must identify free resources for compliance and list them on its website.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do schools need to have the displays up?
The requirement to display the posters begins on January 1, 2027.
Are local school districts required to use their own budget to buy the posters?
No, the act does not require local boards of education to spend district funds. Boards may accept donated funds or displays, and the State Department of Education must identify free resources.
Which classrooms and schools are covered by this rule?
The displays are required in every fifth through twelfth-grade classroom where U.S. history is taught, and in at least one common area or entryway in every school that serves grades five and above.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Became law.
Procedural history
21 actions- Apr 13, 2026SenateEnrolledEnacted
- Apr 9, 2026SenateEnrolledDelivered to Governor
- Apr 9, 2026HouseSignature Requested
- Apr 9, 2026SenateEnrolled
- Apr 9, 2026SenateReady to Enroll
- Apr 9, 2026HouseFloorMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1347
Show 15 earlier actions
- Apr 7, 2026HouseRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Apr 7, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee Second House
- Apr 7, 2026HouseCommitteeRe-referred to Committee in Second House
- Apr 7, 2026HouseRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Apr 7, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee Second House
- Mar 31, 2026HouseCommitteePending Committee Action in Second House
- Mar 31, 2026HouseIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy
- Mar 31, 2026SenateFloorMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 979
- Mar 31, 2026SenatePetition To Close Debate- Adopted Roll Call 978
- Mar 31, 2026SenateThird Reading in House of Origin
- Mar 19, 2026SenateCarried Over to the Call of the Chair
- Feb 12, 2026SenateRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Feb 11, 2026SenateCommitteeReported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Jan 13, 2026SenateCommitteePending Committee Action in House of Origin
- Jan 13, 2026SenateIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Education Policy
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1347
Total
100
- Yes
- 79
- No
- 9
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 4
- Abstain
- 8
How they voted (100)
Kenneth PaschalParty not recordedyes
Ontario TillmanParty not recordedabstain
Rick RehmParty not recordedyes
Alan BakerParty not recordedyes
Ben HarrisonParty not recordedyes
Marcus ParamoreParty not recordedyes
Russell BedsoleParty not recordedyes
Heath AllbrightParty not recordedyes
Steve ClouseParty not recordedyes
Rex ReynoldsParty not recordedyes
Thomas JacksonParty not recordedabstain
Danny GarrettParty not recordedyes
Napoleon BracyParty not recordedyes
Travis HendrixParty not recordednot voting
Paul LeeParty not recordedyes
Anthony DanielsParty not recordedno
Prince ChestnutParty not recordedyes
Phillip RigsbyParty not recordedyes
Matthew HammettParty not recordedyes
TaShina MorrisParty not recordedyes
Marilyn LandsParty not recordedno
Andy WhittParty not recordedyes
Greg BarnesParty not recordedyes
Kristin NelsonParty not recordedyes
76 more members
Troy StubbsParty not recordedyes
Mark ShireyParty not recordedyes
Chip BrownParty not recordedyes
Tim WadsworthParty not recordedyes
Pebblin WarrenParty not recordedabstain
Nathaniel LedbetterParty not recordedyes
Chad RobertsonParty not recordedyes
Terri CollinsParty not recordedabstain
Mike ShawParty not recordedyes
Rhett MarquesParty not recordedyes
Bob FincherParty not recordednot voting
Ben RobbinsParty not recordedyes
Jeana RossParty not recordedyes
Kenyatté HassellParty not recordedyes
Jim CarnsParty not recordedyes
Sam JonesParty not recordedyes
Kelvin LawrenceParty not recordedabstain
Susan DuBoseParty not recordedyes
Leigh HulseyParty not recordedyes
Craig LipscombParty not recordedyes
Chris PringleParty not recordedyes
Ron BoltonParty not recordedyes
James LomaxParty not recordedyes
Jeff SorrellsParty not recordedyes
Patrick SellersParty not recordedyes
Adline ClarkeParty not recordedabstain
Laura HallParty not recordedno
Neil RaffertyParty not recordedno
Berry ForteParty not recordedyes
Jim HillParty not recordedyes
Mark GidleyParty not recordedyes
Tracy EstesParty not recordedyes
Steve HurstParty not recordedyes
Ed OliverParty not recordedyes
Joe LovvornParty not recordedyes
Phillip PettusParty not recordedyes
Phillip EnslerParty not recordedno
Arnold MooneyParty not recordedyes
Matt SimpsonParty not recordedyes
Randy WoodParty not recordedyes
Barbara DrummondParty not recordedabstain
Bill LambParty not recordedyes
Shane StringerParty not recordedyes
Bubba UnderwoodParty not recordedyes
Chris SellsParty not recordedyes
Chris BlackshearParty not recordedyes
Margie WilcoxParty not recordedyes
Chris EnglandParty not recordedno
Brett EasterbrookParty not recordednot voting
Reed IngramParty not recordedyes
Cindy MyrexParty not recordedyes
Jeremy GrayParty not recordedabstain
Ginny ShaverParty not recordedyes
Mike KirklandParty not recordedyes
David FaulknerParty not recordedyes
Juandalynn GivanParty not recordedno
Parker MooreParty not recordedyes
Ernie YarbroughParty not recordedyes
Norman CrowParty not recordedyes
Kelvin DatcherParty not recordedno
Rolanda HollisParty not recordedyes
David StandridgeParty not recordedyes
Danny CrawfordParty not recordedyes
Scott StadthagenParty not recordedyes
Barbara BoydParty not recordednot voting
Jennifer FidlerParty not recordedyes
Frances Holk-JonesParty not recordedyes
Donna GivensParty not recordedyes
Allen TreadawayParty not recordedyes
Ritchie WhortonParty not recordedyes
Bryan BrinyarkParty not recordedyes
Curtis TravisParty not recordedno
Jerry StarnesParty not recordedyes
Jamie KielParty not recordedyes
Mack ButlerParty not recordedyes
Corley EllisParty not recordedyes
Show 3 earlier roll calls
Third Reading in House of Origin
Total
34
- Yes
- 29
- No
- 4
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 1
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (34)
April WeaverParty not recordedyes
Gerald AllenParty not recordedyes
Merika ColemanParty not recordedno
Tom ButlerParty not recordedyes
Andrew JonesParty not recordedyes
Jay HoveyParty not recordedyes
Chris ElliottParty not recordedyes
Sam GivhanParty not recordedyes
Bobby SingletonParty not recordedyes
Keith KelleyParty not recordedyes
Rob StewartParty not recordedyes
David SessionsParty not recordedyes
Jabo WaggonerParty not recordedyes
Shay ShelnuttParty not recordedyes
Arthur OrrParty not recordedyes
Donnie ChesteenParty not recordedyes
Will BarfootParty not recordedyes
Vivian Davis FiguresParty not recordedno
Randy PriceParty not recordedyes
Wes KitchensParty not recordedyes
Dan RobertsParty not recordedyes
Matt WoodsParty not recordedyes
Linda Coleman-MadisonParty not recordedno
Lance BellParty not recordedyes
10 more members
Garlan GudgerParty not recordedyes
Tim MelsonParty not recordednot voting
Greg AlbrittonParty not recordedyes
Clyde ChamblissParty not recordedyes
Josh CarnleyParty not recordedyes
Steve LivingstonParty not recordedyes
Larry StuttsParty not recordedyes
Kirk HatcherParty not recordedno
Rodger SmithermanParty not recordedyes
Jack WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 979
Total
34
- Yes
- 27
- No
- 6
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 1
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (34)
Tom ButlerParty not recordedyes
Greg AlbrittonParty not recordedyes
Garlan GudgerParty not recordedyes
Steve LivingstonParty not recordedyes
Wes KitchensParty not recordedyes
Jay HoveyParty not recordedyes
Lance BellParty not recordedyes
Larry StuttsParty not recordedyes
Bobby SingletonParty not recordedno
Will BarfootParty not recordedyes
Matt WoodsParty not recordedyes
Chris ElliottParty not recordedyes
Josh CarnleyParty not recordedyes
Rob StewartParty not recordedno
Linda Coleman-MadisonParty not recordedno
Shay ShelnuttParty not recordedyes
Gerald AllenParty not recordedyes
Jack WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Clyde ChamblissParty not recordedyes
Merika ColemanParty not recordedno
Arthur OrrParty not recordedyes
Jabo WaggonerParty not recordedyes
Tim MelsonParty not recordedyes
Kirk HatcherParty not recordedno
10 more members
Dan RobertsParty not recordedyes
Andrew JonesParty not recordedyes
Sam GivhanParty not recordedyes
Rodger SmithermanParty not recordednot voting
Vivian Davis FiguresParty not recordedno
Keith KelleyParty not recordedyes
April WeaverParty not recordedyes
Donnie ChesteenParty not recordedyes
David SessionsParty not recordedyes
Randy PriceParty not recordedyes
Petition To Close Debate- Adopted Roll Call 978
Total
34
- Yes
- 27
- No
- 6
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 1
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (34)
Jabo WaggonerParty not recordedyes
Matt WoodsParty not recordedyes
Shay ShelnuttParty not recordedyes
Clyde ChamblissParty not recordedyes
Jack WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Will BarfootParty not recordedyes
Tom ButlerParty not recordedyes
Rodger SmithermanParty not recordedno
Sam GivhanParty not recordedyes
Larry StuttsParty not recordedyes
Josh CarnleyParty not recordedyes
Rob StewartParty not recordedno
Garlan GudgerParty not recordedyes
Greg AlbrittonParty not recordedyes
April WeaverParty not recordedyes
Bobby SingletonParty not recordedno
Randy PriceParty not recordedyes
Arthur OrrParty not recordedyes
Chris ElliottParty not recordedyes
Vivian Davis FiguresParty not recordednot voting
Kirk HatcherParty not recordedno
Jay HoveyParty not recordedyes
David SessionsParty not recordedyes
Dan RobertsParty not recordedyes
10 more members
Lance BellParty not recordedyes
Andrew JonesParty not recordedyes
Wes KitchensParty not recordedyes
Keith KelleyParty not recordedyes
Gerald AllenParty not recordedyes
Linda Coleman-MadisonParty not recordedno
Donnie ChesteenParty not recordedyes
Steve LivingstonParty not recordedyes
Merika ColemanParty not recordedno
Tim MelsonParty not recordedyes
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift95% confidence
Mandatory Historical and Religious Classroom Displays
The state transitions from permissive curriculum guidelines to a specific mandate requiring local school boards to exhibit the Ten Commandments alongside founding documents in history classrooms.
Connected Entities
OrganizationState Superintendent of Education“Approves layout and design of posters and determines availability of donations”Map →
OrganizationState Board of Education“Authorized to adopt rules to implement the act and approved the 2024 social stud”Map →
OrganizationState Department of Education“Identifies free resources for compliance and lists them on its website”Map →
Sources
Open source document
alison.legislature.state.al.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz70Current news / social attention level
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