Louisiana law signed, first in US to require Ten Commandments in the classroom

Louisiana public schools will now be required to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, following a new law signed on Wednesday by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry.

The first state to take such action, Louisiana's legislation mandates a poster-sized display of the religious rules in “large, easily readable font” for kindergarten classrooms up to state-funded universities starting in 2025.

"If you want to respect the rule of law you've got to start from the original law given, which was Moses," Landry said during the bill-signing ceremony.

The crowd applauded and one "amen" was heard while the governor spoke. Landry passed the Ten Commandments bill as part of a series of education reforms but added that this was "one of the bills that got the press over here."

The Louisiana Legislature passed the Republican-drafted measure in May. Opponents have attacked the legislation as unconstitutional.

The law's text describes the Ten Commandments' "historical role" and says that, "Including the Ten Commandments in the education of our children is part of our state and national history, culture, and tradition."

Republicans in states including Texas and Oklahoma have pushed for similar legislation.

The Louisiana governor touted the bill Saturday while in Tennessee as keynote speaker for the Tennessee Republican Statesmen’s Dinner.

“I’m going home to sign a bill that places the Ten Commandments in public classrooms,” Landry told the crowd over the weekend. “And I can’t wait to be sued.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ten Commandments to be required in Louisiana classrooms under new law