BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana has become the first state to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday.

The GOP-drafted legislation mandates that a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” be required in all public classrooms, from kindergarten to state-funded universities. Although the bill did not receive final approval from Landry, the time for gubernatorial action — to sign or veto the bill — has lapsed, allowing the bill to become law automatically.

Opponents question the law’s constitutionality, warning that lawsuits would likely follow. Proponents argue that the measure has historical significance and is not solely religious. In the law’s language, the Ten Commandments are described as “foundational documents of our state and national government.”

Civil liberties groups announced later on Wednesday that they planned to challenge the Louisiana law in court. In a joint statement, the Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation stated that "the law violates the separation of church and state and is blatantly unconstitutional."

"The First Amendment promises that we all get to decide for ourselves what religious beliefs, if any, to hold and practice, without pressure from the government," the statement added. "Politicians have no business imposing their preferred religious doctrine on students and families in public schools."

The displays, which will be paired with a four-paragraph “context statement” describing how the Ten Commandments “were a prominent part of American public education for almost three centuries,” must be in place in classrooms by the start of 2025.

The posters would be paid for through donations. State funds will not be used to implement the mandate, based on language in the legislation.

The law also “authorizes” — but does not require — the display of the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance in K-12 public schools.

Similar bills requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms have been proposed in other states, including Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah. However, with threats of legal battles over the constitutionality of such measures, no state besides Louisiana has had success in making the bills law.

Legal battles over the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms are not new.

In 1980, the Supreme Court ruled that a similar Kentucky law was unconstitutional and violated the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says Congress can “make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” The high court found that the law had no secular purpose but rather served a plainly religious purpose.

Louisiana’s controversial law, in a state ensconced in the Bible Belt, comes during a new era of conservative leadership in the state under Landry, who replaced two-term Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards in January.

The GOP also has a two-thirds supermajority in the Legislature, and Republicans hold every statewide elected position, paving the way for lawmakers to push through a conservative agenda during the legislative session that concluded earlier this month.

The legislation’s passage and impending legal challenges are set against a backdrop of broader national debates over the role of religion in public spaces and the interpretation of the First Amendment. Proponents argue that acknowledging the historical significance of the Ten Commandments does not equate to endorsing a particular religion, while opponents contend that such displays inherently promote a specific religious doctrine.

As the legal battles unfold, the outcome will likely set important precedents regarding the separation of church and state and the permissible extent of religious expression in public institutions. The controversy in Louisiana may also influence similar legislative efforts in other states, shaping the national discourse on religious displays in public schools.

Governor Landry has defended the law, stating that it reflects the values and historical heritage of Louisiana. He has urged the public to focus on the educational and moral benefits of the Ten Commandments while dismissing concerns about constitutional violations as overstated.

The response from local communities has been mixed, with some parents and educators supporting the measure as a positive reinforcement of moral principles, while others fear it may alienate students of diverse religious backgrounds. The upcoming implementation of the law will likely bring these debates to the forefront of public discussion, both within Louisiana and beyond.

The national implications of this legislation are significant, as the precedent set by Louisiana could encourage other states to pursue similar measures. The tension between religious expression and secular governance will continue to be a contentious issue, with this law potentially serving as a pivotal case in ongoing legal and cultural debates.

As schools prepare for the implementation of this mandate, administrators and teachers will need to navigate the practical and ethical challenges it presents. The legal battles that follow will not only determine the fate of this law but also influence the broader landscape of religious expression in public education across the United States.