Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating several school districts, including the El Paso Independent School District, to ensure they are following new state laws surrounding the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
Paxton’s news release didn’t provide any evidence that EPISD or other districts are violating state law. EPISD officials said in a statement that they follow all state laws and regulations.
Last month, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Texas’s Senate Bill 10, passed during the 2025 State Legislature, did not violate the First Amendment’s freedom of religion protections.
Although school districts are not required to purchase copies of the religious document under SB 10, nor will the state provide them, they must accept donations that fit state requirements.
The 29 school districts being investigated include schools involved in lawsuits challenging the bill, according to the attorney general’s Thursday announcement.
EPISD did not take part in litigation against SB 10, district officials said in a statement.
“El Paso ISD remains committed to adhering to all state laws and guidelines set forth by the Texas Education Agency. Our primary focus remains on providing a high-quality, supportive learning environment for all students,” the district said in the statement.
The district did not say if it has received any donated copies of the Ten Commandments. School board President Leah Hanany said she was not aware of any donations.
Paxton said his office will also investigate the districts to see whether they are complying with Senate Bill 11, which lawmakers approved last year and requires school boards to vote on whether to allow a designated prayer period during class time.
As part of this investigation, the attorney general’s office “demanded” that the districts provide documents regarding the display — or lack of display — of the Ten Commandments and show proof that the board voted on implementing a prayer period.
El Paso’s three largest districts all voted in February against establishing a designated prayer period. Under federal law, students are already allowed to pray or read religious texts in school and can be excused from class for religious practices.
The districts under investigation include Alamo Heights, North East, Austin, Cypress-Fairbanks, Lackland, Lake Travis, Fort Bend, Houston, Dripping Springs, Plano, Northside, Conroe, Galveston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Wichita Falls, McAllen, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, United, Texarkana, Victoria, Waco, Abilene, San Angelo, Brownsville, and Beaumont ISDs.
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