SC House Passes Ten Commandments Display Bill; Rep. Justin Bamberg, Residents Watch

The South Carolina House of Representatives adopted legislation on second reading on Feb. 26, 2026 that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school and university classroom in the state, after hours of debate that members described as among the most spirited of the session. Representative Steven Long, R‑Spartanburg, identified in floor coverage as the bill sponsor, argued the display “helps educate students” and that faith shaped the nation’s founding and legal system.

Floor debate largely fell along party lines and featured sharp exchanges. Representative James Teeple, R‑Charleston, told colleagues, “You don’t get a free pass to come up here and say ‘ha ha ha, it’s so funny we’re talking about the Ten Commandments,’” adding, “No, it is serious. We’re talking about the future of this nation.” Representative Wendell Gilliard, D‑Charleston, countered that religious instruction belongs in houses of worship, saying, “That’s why we have churches. Let the pastors do their jobs and let the teachers do theirs. It’s just as plain and simple as that.”

Reporting on the measure describes conflicting implementation details. Two broadcast outlets cited a requirement for schools to post at least an 11‑by‑14‑inch poster of the Ten Commandments, while the SC Daily Gazette reported the bill would require an 11‑by‑13‑inch poster or framed copy in every classroom and include a “context statement” explaining the Ten Commandments’ history in public education. The Gazette also reported the bill would allow volunteer chaplains to visit school campuses and identified Rep. Robby Robbins of Summerville as one of 47 Republican sponsors, quoting Robbins: “The posting of the Commandments, I think, reiterates and reminds everybody on a daily basis of how we got this entire institution started.”

Democrats used procedural tactics to delay the vote, including extended periods of silence on the House floor, and Representative Justin Bamberg, D‑Bamberg, physically held up a paper quoting a Bible verse: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Representative Jermaine Johnson, D‑Richland, said the measure distracted from more pressing issues, asserting, “If we had a little bit more God in this chamber, then we would be focusing on things that affect the people of South Carolina.” Representative Roger Kirby, D‑Lake City, warned the requirement could invite costly litigation and suggested posting the Commandments in the Statehouse as a legal test.

Available reports do not include a roll‑call tally or indicate whether the House completed final passage and transmitted the bill to the Senate. The bill’s text, exact poster dimensions, the presence and wording of any required context statement, and any volunteer‑chaplain provision remain matters for confirmation from the House clerk and the bill sponsor. National and regional precedents cited in related coverage note that similar measures in other states have faced court challenges, including federal blocking of enforcement in five Louisiana school districts and Oklahoma court rulings related to Ten Commandments displays, underscoring likely legal scrutiny if the measure advances.