(Pierre, SD) — The bill that would have required the Ten Commandments to be displayed in South Dakota schools is not going to happen. An amended version of Senate Bill 51 failed on the House floor yesterday after more than an hour of debate. Representatives voted somewhat split on the legislation, 37-31, but it was ultimately shut down. That amendment had changed the language from every classroom in the state to a single, prominent location in the school. But lawmakers in opposition still shared concerns with the inclusion of teaching the Ten Commandments and the potential for lawsuits. Those in favor claimed it wasn’t about religion but rather historical significance. The House’s prime sponsor of the bill, Republican Representative Heather Baxter, elected not to motion for reconsideration of the bill.
