This bill would require each school district to set up a formal Material Review Committee to review book challenges. Each committee would be required to include at least one certified school library media specialist.

The bill would protect school librarians from intimidation and harassment. The bill would also affirm that:

  • the freedom to read is a constitutionally protected right under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution;
  • public school students have the right to access a wide range of diverse, developmentally appropriate materials that reflect varying perspectives, cultural experiences, and subject matters; and
  • no individual or group has the right to infringe upon the right of a student to access such materials unless determined through established legal and administrative processes.

We support this bill because: Nationally coordinated harassment and book banning campaigns have made the already challenging job of public educators intolerably difficult for the past several years. Teachers and librarians have consistently shown up to defend their students’ rights and their own profession, but it’s time we showed them some support in the state legislature.

By formalizing the local review process and requiring trained specialists to provide input, this bill would help ensure that the educational needs of students are once again centered in the book selection and challenge process.

Sponsors

Reps. Bauer, Hosey, Garvin, Cobb-Hunter, Bernstein, Stavrinakis, Dillard, Wetmore, King, Spann-Wilder, Jones, Rivers, Gilliard, Anderson, Kirby, Luck, Rose, Rutherford, Alexander, Grant, Reese

Status

Active

Session

126th General Assembly (2025-2026)

Bill number

Position

Support