Texas would require all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments under a Republican proposal that's cleared a major vote.
If passed as expected, the measure is likely to draw a legal challenge from critics who consider it a constitutional violation of the separation of church and state.
Texas' Republican-controlled lower house gave its preliminary approval on Sunday AEST, with a final vote expected in the next few days.
That would send the bill to the desk of Texas Republican governor Greg Abbott, who has indicated he will sign it into law.
"The focus of this bill is to look at what is historically important to our nation educationally and judicially," said Republican state representative Candy Noble, a co-sponsor of the bill.
Greg Abbott wants the Ten Commandments displayed in all Texas state school classrooms. Source: AP / Justin Rex
Those measures are among efforts, mainly in conservative-led states, to insert religion into public schools.
Texan lawmakers also have passed and sent to Abbott a measure that allows school districts to provide students and staff a daily voluntary period of prayer or time to read a religious text during school hours. Abbott is expected to sign it.
Supporters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms say they are part of the foundation of the United States' judicial and educational systems and should be displayed.
But critics, including some Christian and other faith leaders, say the Ten Commandments and prayer measures would infringe the religious freedom of others.
