HB 1086 Indiana House · 2026 Regular Session

Ten Commandments as a protected writing.

Summary
Includes the Ten Commandments on a list of protected writings, documents, and records. Provides that a principal or teacher may not read the Ten Commandments aloud when students are present.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 5, 2026 Last action Jan 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced House Bill (H) House Bill (H) · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was substantially rewritten to shift from requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments to instead protecting various historical and governmental writings as 'protected writings.' The new version adds the Ten Commandments to a list of protected materials but prohibits reading them aloud in class, while also adding protections for American history curriculum against censorship based on religious references.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed from a mandatory display requirement to a broader protection of multiple historical documents, with specific restrictions on how the Ten Commandments can be used in educational settings.
REQUIREMENT

Changed from requiring schools to display Ten Commandments posters in classrooms and libraries to instead including them on a list of protected writings alongside the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and other historical documents.

Added a prohibition preventing principals or teachers from reading the Ten Commandments aloud when students are present.

Added protections preventing content-based censorship of American history or heritage based on religious references in protected writings.

Added requirements that school libraries must maintain permanent collections of specified historical documents, including the Ten Commandments.

Added protections for students who reference protected writings in their schoolwork, preventing grade reductions or other punishments for such references.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors