Don’t Mess With Texas… ‘Merry Christmas Bill’ Expected Soon to Become Law in Texas

It’s Christmas come early in Texas … ‘Merry Christmas Bill’ expected to become law in Texas soon.

It would appear that the following will no longer have to be asked by school children in Texas, “Daddy, why do we have a Christmas tree at home and a Holiday tree at school?”

Texas Governor Rick Perry is expected to sign legislation allowing public schools to celebrate Christmas and other winter holidays plainly and explicitly without fear of lawsuits. The proposed law, is called the “Merry Christmas Bill,” has already passed both the Texas House and Senate and now awaits the Perry’s signature. The bill allows “students and district staff” to declare such things such as “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah,” and even the soul-sucking “happy holidays.” Oh, the ACLU and anti-Christian organizations are going to lose their mind with this. How sad is it that we have to pass a law to prevent a school from doing this to exempt them from being sued? Is the “war on Christmas” over? Hardly, PC libs are sure to challenge it at the first chance. They will get some 7 year old to say they are being made to feel uncomfortable by being wished a Merry Christmas”.

The text of the bill specifically permits school districts to “educate students about the history of traditional winter celebrations.” More importantly and, somehow, controversially, the bill allows “students and district staff” to declare such things such as “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah,” and even the soul-sucking “happy holidays.”

The bill also unambiguously legalizes displays of the religious imagery associated with traditional winter celebrations including nativity scenes, Christmas trees and menorahs. The caveat is that all displays must include imagery from at least two religions or some additional secular symbol. (Messages encouraging adherence to a religion are verboten, too.)

Merry Christmas bill website.

Full Text of Bill:

	83R1978 CAE-D

	By: Bohac	H.B. No. 308



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to a school district’s recognition of and education
	regarding traditional winter celebrations.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 29.920 to read as follows:
	Sec. 29.920. WINTER CELEBRATIONS. (a) A school district
	may educate students about the history of traditional winter
	celebrations, and allow students and district staff to offer
	traditional greetings regarding the celebrations, including:
	(1) ”Merry Christmas”;
	(2) ”Happy Hanukkah”; and
	(3) ”happy holidays.”
	(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a school district
	may display on school property scenes or symbols associated with
	traditional winter celebrations, including a menorah or a Christmas
	image such as a nativity scene or Christmas tree, if the display
	includes a scene or symbol of:
	(1) more than one religion; or
	(2) one religion and at least one secular scene or
	symbol.
	(c) A display relating to a traditional winter celebration
	may not include a message that encourages adherence to a particular
	religious belief.
	SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014
	school year.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2013