HB 178 Alabama House · 2025 Regular Session

Ten Commandments; required to be displayed in the common area of public K-12 schools

HB 178 requires public K-12 schools in Alabama to display the Ten Commandments in common areas and U.S. history classrooms, starting January 1, 2026. Each display must also include a statement of context and excerpts from certain foundational U.S. historical documents. Local boards of education are not mandated to use their own funds for these displays, as compliance is contingent on the availability of donated funds or materials. The State Department of Education is responsible for identifying and publicizing free resources to assist schools in meeting this requirement.

Issues: ✗ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action Apr 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Apr 17, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its introduced version to an engrossed version with significant substantive changes to the legislative findings and scope. The engrossed version expands the historical context beyond just the Ten Commandments to include other founding documents like the Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, and Constitution. It also updates legal citations to reflect recent Supreme Court decisions and clarifies that the display requirement does not create an unfunded mandate.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include not just the Ten Commandments but also other founding documents that reference God and religion, broadening the educational materials that may be displayed in schools.

REQUIREMENT

The synopsis was removed and replaced with a more detailed title that clarifies the bill requires displaying the Ten Commandments along with other founding documents, not just the Ten Commandments alone.

Legal citations were updated to include recent Supreme Court cases (Kennedy v. Bremerton) and to reflect the 2024 social studies curriculum requirements for displaying the Ten Commandments with an appropriate context statement.

DEFINITION

New legislative findings were added (Sections 1(b) and 1(c)) that specifically list the Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and Northwest Ordinance as documents that shaped civil society and include references to God and religion.

FISCAL

New language clarifies that local boards of education are encouraged to use documents that are printed and made available free of charge, and that the act does not create an unfunded mandate.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the display requirement was changed to begin January 1, 2026, with implementation subject to the availability of donated funds or donated displays.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Education Policy)

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Add Cosponsor - Adopted Roll Call 887

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 886

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 885

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Introduced

Education Policy 1st Substitute Offered (Education Policy)

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Education Policy)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors