It was a controversial move.
Texas lawmakers have advanced a bill that would permit public school teachers and staff to engage in prayer or religious expression while on duty. The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 965, passed the state Senate in a 22-9 vote along party lines. The measure asserts that a school district or any other state entity cannot interfere with the religious speech or prayers of school employees, with limited exceptions.
Under current Texas law, students are already allowed to voluntarily pray in public schools, provided there is no coercion involved. The Texas Education Code also provides for a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day, during which students may meditate or reflect. SB 965, introduced by Republican Senator Tan Parker, seeks to reinforce these rights for educators in light of the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, which upheld a coach’s right to pray on the field, citing First Amendment protections.
The bill would give school employees the ability to participate in prayer or meditation with students. However, critics, including Democratic Senator Nathan Johnson, argue that the legislation is unnecessary, since the Supreme Court ruling already enshrines these protections at the federal level. Johnson contended that if the goal was merely to reflect existing law, no new legislation would be required.
Senator Parker maintains that SB 965 is intended to formally incorporate the Supreme Court’s decision into Texas law and reinforce the religious freedoms of public school personnel. The bill is part of a broader legislative effort by Texas Republicans to increase religious presence in public schools. Additional measures under consideration include requirements to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms and provisions for prayer or Bible reading during the school day.
Other states are following a similar path. In Oklahoma, lawmakers have pushed for increased religious activity in schools, prompting opposition from groups such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The organization recently challenged a school district’s policy in Oklahoma that allowed student-led prayers during morning announcements, claiming it violated constitutional boundaries.