HB 313: Education; authorize and require all public elementary and secondary schools to display the Ten Commandments in multiple locations

Georgia law currently allows, but does not require, public schools to display historically significant documents like the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights. This bill adds the Ten Commandments and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 to that list of documents schools may display, and separately creates a new mandatory requirement specifically for the Ten Commandments. Every public elementary and secondary school would have to post a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments, at least 16 by 20 inches, at the main entrance of the main building, the school library, and the cafeteria, along with a required historical context statement about the Ten Commandments in American education. Schools would not have to spend public money on these displays; they could rely on donated funds or privately donated posters that meet the size and content requirements. The State Board of Education must write implementing rules, and the Department of Education must post free compliant resources online. The bill would take effect immediately if signed by the Governor.

• Requires all public elementary and secondary schools in Georgia to display the Ten Commandments in three specific locations by July 1, 2025.
• Sets minimum size (16 by 20 inches) and legibility requirements for the required Ten Commandments displays.
• Requires each display to include a specific historical context statement about the Ten Commandments in American public education.
• Bars schools from being forced to spend public funds on the displays, but requires them to accept donated funds or privately donated posters that meet the bill's specifications.
• Adds the Ten Commandments and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 to the existing list of historical documents schools may optionally display.
• Directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules and the Department of Education to publish free compliant resources online.

All Georgia public elementary and secondary schools, local school systems, and local boards of education, which must install and maintain the displays; students and staff who will see the posters; the State Board of Education and Department of Education, which must write rules and publish resources; and private donors who may fund the displays.

Georgia schools would go from optionally displaying historical documents to being legally required to post the Ten Commandments in three locations, changing what students see daily in hallways, libraries, and cafeterias, while shifting the funding burden to donations rather than school budgets.

• Section 1 lays out legislative findings citing U.S. Supreme Court cases and historical documents to justify the requirement, and states the Act should not create an unfunded mandate.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1021(a) to add the Ten Commandments and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 to the list of documents schools may optionally display.
• Section 3 adds a new subsection (b) requiring, by July 1, 2025, a Ten Commandments poster at the main entrance of the main building, the library, and the cafeteria of every public school.
• Section 3 specifies the poster must be at least 16 by 20 inches, include the full text of the Ten Commandments, and be displayed with a mandated historical context statement.
• Section 3 says schools need not spend public funds but must accept donated funds or privately donated posters meeting the requirements, and directs the State Board of Education to adopt implementing rules.
• Section 4 updates O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1022 so the Department of Education's online teacher resource page can include the newly added items, up through paragraph (16).
• Section 5 makes the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.

1. 2025-02-11House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-10House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-06House Hopper (House)

• Emory Dunahoo (R, HD-031)Primary sponsor
• Charlice Byrd (R, HD-020)
• Noelle Kahaian (R, HD-081)
• Steve Tarvin (R, HD-002)
• Mike Cameron (R, HD-001)
• Martin Momtahan (R, HD-017)

• Ten Commandments in schools
• public education
• religion and government
• Georgia school policy