A 9246: Relates to authorizing Bible literacy courses in public schools; directs the commissioner to promulgate regulations establishing an elective course of studies in Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament of the Bible to teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 9246 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY November 7, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to Bible literacy courses in public schools The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 819 to 2 read as follows: 3 § 819. Course of instruction on Bible literacy. 1. The commissioner 4 shall promulgate regulations to establish elective social studies cours- 5 es of study on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament of the Bible, the 6 New Testament of the Bible or the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testa- 7 ment of the Bible. 8 2. The purpose of a course of study under this section is to: 9 (a) teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, 10 and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary 11 society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, 12 and public policy; and 13 (b) familiarize students with, as applicable: 14 (i) the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament; 15 (ii) the history of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament; 16 (iii) the literary style and structure of the Hebrew Scriptures or New 17 Testament; and 18 (iv) the influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament on law, 19 history, government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values, 20 and culture. 21 3. A student shall not be required to use a specific translation as 22 the sole text of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament and may use as 23 the basic textbook a different translation of the Hebrew Scriptures or 24 New Testament from that chosen by the school district. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD13460-01-5 
 A. 9246 2 1 4. The commissioner shall include the course standards in the program 2 of studies for public schools, including the teacher qualifications and 3 required professional development. 4 5. A course offered under this section shall follow applicable law and 5 all federal and state guidelines in maintaining religious neutrality and 6 accommodating the diverse religious views, traditions, and perspectives 7 of students in the school. A course under this section shall not 8 endorse, favor, or promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any 9 particular religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective. The 10 commissioner, in complying with this section, shall not violate any 11 provision of the United States Constitution or federal law, the New York 12 Constitution or any state law, or any administrative regulations of the 13 United States Department of Education or the department. 14 6. Any school district may authorize the display of historic arti- 15 facts, monuments, symbols, and texts, including but not limited to reli- 16 gious materials, in conjunction with a course of study that includes an 17 elective course in history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, 18 literature, or other subject area that uses such artifacts, monuments, 19 symbols, and texts as instructional material if the display is appropri- 20 ate to the overall educational purpose of the course. 21 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.