Missouri legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Missouri HB1994: Requires school districts to display the Ten Commandments in each instructional building in the school district
Status: In committee, May 15, 2026
What the bill says
To amend chapter 171, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the Ten Commandments in schools. Section A. Chapter 171, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 171.022, to read as follows: 171.022. 1. As used in this section, "Ten Commandments" means the following text: "The Ten Commandments I AM the LORD thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days.
From the introduced text:
To amend chapter 171, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the Ten Commandments in schools. Section A. Chapter 171, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 171.022, to read as follows: 171.022. 1. As used in this section, "Ten Commandments" means the following text: "The Ten Commandments I AM the LORD thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor's." EXPLANATION -- Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 1994 2. Beginning on January 1, 2027, each school district's …
Sponsors
- William Irwin (R, 055) · primary sponsor