Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the three-term Republican who presides over the Senate, has identified the proposal as a legislative priority. Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, who authored SB 10, said he expects Texas will be sued if the Legislature enacts the bill,

Speakers clashed Wednesday at a public hearing over a bill that would require school systems to display the Ten Commandments in school buildings. Four Alabama faith leaders spoke against SB166 by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, while four individuals spoke in favor of the bill.

A Texas Senate committee on Tuesday advanced bills that would require public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments and allow districts to provide students with time to pray during school hours.