The Texas House State Affairs Committee today left pending Senate Bill 11, the school prayer bill, which mandates daily prayer and Bible reading periods in Texas public schools.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2025
CONTACT: Emily Witt (she/her), [email protected]
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas House State Affairs Committee today left pending Senate Bill 11, a measure that would mandate a daily period for prayer and Bible reading in Texas public schools.
Texas Freedom Network Political Director Rocío Fierro-Pérez (she/her) issued the following response:
“While the committee has yet to vote, all indications point to SB 11 moving forward. This should ring alarm bells for every Texan who values religious freedom and the right of families to make their own choices about faith. SB 11 violates those freedoms. By imposing a government-mandated prayer period, the bill coerces students into religious activities that may conflict with their personal beliefs or those of their families.
“This dangerous legislation strips parents of the right to direct their children’s religious upbringing and opens the door to costly lawsuits that will drain public resources from our already struggling schools, which are grappling with underfunding, overcrowded classrooms, and teacher shortages. Lawmakers should be working to support students, instead of pushing government overreach and turning their backs on the constitutional freedoms that safeguard religious liberty for all.”
Legislation aimed at injecting religious instruction into Texas public schools has been a central focus throughout the 2025 Texas Legislative Session, with House Public Education members just last week holding a late-night hearing to debate the Ten Commandments Bill, Senate Bill 10.
If Senate Bill 11, the school prayer bill, formally passes out of the House Committee, it will be debated on the House floor.
