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What This Bill Does

SB 34 — renamed the "Display of Founding Documents of Historic Significance Act" after April 2025 amendments — requires every school board, community school, and STEM school to adopt a policy displaying at least four of nine historical documents in social studies and history classrooms for grades 4–12. The list includes the Ten Commandments alongside the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.

The bill authorizes private donors to fund the displays and explicitly permits donations from outside groups such as the Center for Christian Virtue.

Impact on LGBTQIA+ Ohioans

While SB 34 does not reference sexual orientation or gender identity on its face, LGBTQ+ advocates oppose it because it invites anti-LGBTQ+ religious groups to fund and shape classroom messaging. The Center for Christian Virtue — a principal likely funder — has been among the most active lobbying forces behind Ohio's "Don't Say Gay" law (HB 8), bathroom ban (HB 183), and gender-affirming care ban (HB 68).

By mandating displays funded by these groups, SB 34 positions anti-LGBTQ+ religious messaging as a default feature of public-school classroom walls.

Legal & Constitutional Risks

Timeline

February 2025
Introduced in the Senate as a Ten Commandments display bill
April 2025
Amended into the "Founding Documents Displays Act" with a 4-of-9 document mandate
November 20, 2025
Passed the Ohio Senate 23–10
February 4, 2026
Referred to House Education Committee
Pending
Awaiting first House Education hearing

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