Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB670: AN ACT relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in schools.
Status: In committee, February 25, 2026
Repeal and reenact KRS 158.178 to require that a public school or public charter school conspicuously display a copy of the Ten Commandments accompanied by text providing historical context in each elementary and secondary classroom; set requirements for the display; require private donations to be used to acquire copies; require the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations for enforcement; create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to require that public postsecondary education institutions conspicuously display a copy of the Ten Commandments in each classroom; set requirements for the display; require private donations to be used to acquire copies; require the Council on Postsecondary Education to promulgate administrative regulations for enforcement; amend KRS 158.195 to allow teachers and administrators to read or post the Ten Commandments in a public school building, classroom, or event.
What the bill says
An act relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in schools.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in schools. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. KRS 158.178 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) The General Assembly finds that: (a) In 2005, the Supreme Court of the United States recognized that it is permissible to display the Ten Commandments on government property in Van Orden v. Perry, 545 U.S. 677 (2005); (b) In 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States further recognized that the Ten Commandments "have historical significance as one of the foundations of our legal system...." in American Legion v. American Humanist Association, 588 U.S. 29 (2019), and also ruled that the display of the Ten Commandments on public property may have "multiple purposes" such as "historical significance" and to represent a "common cultural heritage"; (c) Recognizing the historical role of the Ten Commandments accords with our nation's history and faithfully reflects the understanding of the founders of our nation with respect to the necessity of civic morality to a functional selfgovernment; (d) Including the Ten Commandments in the education of our children is part of our state and national history, culture, and tradition; (e) The text of the Ten Commandments set forth in this section is identical to the text of the Ten …
Sponsors
- Josh Calloway (R, HD-010) · primary sponsor
- Richard White (R, HD-099)
- Shane Baker (R, HD-085)
- Emily Callaway (R, HD-037)
- Jennifer Decker (R, HD-058)
- Steven Doan (R, HD-069)
- Ryan Dotson (R, HD-073)
- Daniel Elliott (R, HD-054)
- Chris Fugate (R, HD-084)
- David Hale (R, HD-074)
- Mark Hart (R, HD-078)
- John Hodgson (R, HD-036)
Latest actions
- : to Primary and Secondary Education (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: Education, Higher, Education, Elementary And Secondary, Universities And Colleges, Administrative Regulations And Proceedings, Religion
Common questions
- What is HB670?
- HB670 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in schools.
- What does HB670 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in schools.
- What is the status of HB670?
- In committee as of February 25, 2026. Latest action: to Primary and Secondary Education (H) (February 25, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB670?
- Josh Calloway (R, HD-010), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB670?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb670.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.