Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 13, granting parents and school boards greater authority over school library book selections. The Texas House approved the legislation after it passed the Senate.
The bill requires school boards or advisory councils to approve new books and handle complaints about existing titles.
Under the law, school boards can review and approve all new library acquisitions or delegate this task to an advisory council made up of parents and community members. The council or board will decide if challenged books remain in the collection.
As Texas schools begin to implement the new requirements, the impact of Senate Bill 13 will depend on how school boards and advisory councils apply its provisions.
The law marks a notable shift in the role of local authorities in shaping library collections and educational standards.
