Trans Legislation Tracker

Texas SB13

EDUCATIONPASSED - PENDING ACTION

Relating to a school district's library materials and catalog, the establishment of local school library advisory councils, and parental rights regarding public school library catalogs and access by the parent's child to library materials.

Legislative Session

active

89th Legislature Regular Session

Selected quotes

"Harmful material" has the meaning assigned by Section 43.24, Penal Code. (2) "Indecent content" means content that portrays sexual or excretory organs or activities in a way that is patently offensive. (3) "Library material" means any book, record, file, or other instrument or document in a school district's library catalog. The term does not include instructional material, as defined by Section 31.002, or materials procured for the TexShare consortium under Subchapter M, Chapter 441, Government Code. (4) "Profane content" means content that includes grossly offensive language that is considered a public nuisance.

(A) prohibits the possession, acquisition, and purchase of: (i) harmful material , as defined by Section 43.24, Penal Code (ii) library material rated sexually explicit material by the selling library material vendor; or (iii) library material that is pervasively vulgar or educationally unsuitable as referenced in Board of Education v. Pico v. Board of Education, 457 U.S. 853 (1982); (iv) library material containing indecent content or profane content; or (v) library material that refers a person to an Internet website containing content prohibited under this subsection, including by use of a link or QR code, as defined by Section 443.001, Health and Safety Code; (B) recognizes that obscene content is not protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; (C) is required for all library materials available for use or display, including material contained in school libraries, classroom libraries, and online catalogs, library mobile applications, and any other library catalog a student may access;

PARENTAL ACCESS TO LIBRARY CATALOG AND ACCESS BY THE PARENT'S CHILD TO CERTAIN LIBRARY MATERIALS. (a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school shall adopt procedures that provide for a parent of a child [...] (1) access the catalog of available library materials at each school library in the district or school; and [...] allow for a parent to submit a list of library materials through: (1) an electronic or physical form; or (2) the district's or school's online library catalog system. (c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may not allow a student to check out or otherwise use outside the school library a library material the student's parent has included in a list submitted under Subsection (a)(2).

LOCAL SCHOOL LIBRARY ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) The board of trustees of each school district shall establish a local school library advisory council [...] ensuring that local community values are reflected in each school library catalog [...] A school district must consider the recommendations of the local school library advisory council before: (1) adding library materials to a school library catalog; 2) removing library materials from a school library catalog following a challenge under Section 33.027; or (3) making changes to policies or guidelines related to a school library catalog. [...] (c) The local school library advisory council's duties include recommending: (1) policies and procedures for the acquisition of library materials consistent with local community values; [...] (4) the removal of any library materials that the council determines to be: (A) harmful material or material containing indecent content or profane content; or (B) inconsistent with local community values;

The local school library advisory council must consist of at least five members [...] A majority of the voting members of the council must be [...] parents of students enrolled in the district and who are not employed by the district. One of those members shall serve as chair of the council.

CHALLENGE OR APPEAL REGARDING LIBRARY MATERIALS; [...] A person residing in the district may submit [...] a written challenge to any library material in the catalog of a school library in the district using the form adopted under Subsection (e); [...] (b) Not later than the fifth day after [...] a school district receives a written challenge [...] the district shall provide a copy of the challenge to the district's local school library advisory council. [...] The council shall make a recommendation for action by the district not later than the 90th day after the date on which the council receives the copy.

Links

View bill on LegiScan

Calendar

datetimetypelocationdescription
2025-05-0608:00HearingJHR 140House Public Education Committee Hearing
2025-02-2710:00HearingE1.028Senate Education K-16 Committee Hearing

History

DateAction
2025-06-03Reported enrolled
2025-06-03Sent to the Governor
2025-06-02Signed in the Senate
2025-06-02Signed in the House
2025-05-31House adopts conference committee report
2025-05-31Record vote RV#4115
2025-05-31Rules suspended
2025-05-31Record vote
2025-05-31Senate adopts conference committee report
2025-05-31Record vote
2025-05-31Senate adopts conf. comm. report-reported
2025-05-31House adopts conf. comm. report-reported
2025-05-30House grants request for conference committee
2025-05-30House appoints conferees
2025-05-30House grants request for conf comm-reported
2025-05-30House appoints conferees-reported
2025-05-30Conference committee report filed
2025-05-30Conf. Comm. Report distributed
2025-05-29House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
2025-05-29Read
2025-05-29Senate refuses to concur
2025-05-29Senate requests conference committee
2025-05-29Senate appoints conferees
2025-05-29Senate refuses to concur-reported
2025-05-29Senate requests conference committee-reported
2025-05-29Senate appoints conferees-reported
2025-05-28Rules suspended
2025-05-28Additional sponsor(s) authorized
2025-05-28Laid out as postponed business
2025-05-28Passed
2025-05-28Record vote RV#3921
2025-05-28House passage as amended reported
2025-05-27Rules suspended
2025-05-27Additional sponsor(s) authorized
2025-05-27Read 3rd time
2025-05-27Postponed 5/28/25 8:00 AM
2025-05-26Placed on Major State Calendar
2025-05-26Read 2nd time
2025-05-26Postponed 5/26/25 3:15 PM
2025-05-26Laid out as postponed business
2025-05-26Amended 1-Buckley
2025-05-26Record vote RV#3573
2025-05-26Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
2025-05-26Amendment tabled 2-Zwiener
2025-05-26Record vote RV#3574
2025-05-26Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
2025-05-26Amendment tabled 3-Hinojosa
2025-05-26Record vote RV#3575
2025-05-26Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
2025-05-26Amendment tabled 4-Gámez
2025-05-26Record vote RV#3576
2025-05-26Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
2025-05-26Amended 5-Cunningham
2025-05-26Record vote RV#3577
2025-05-26Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
2025-05-26Amendment fails of adoption 6-Money
2025-05-26Record vote RV#3578
2025-05-26Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
2025-05-26Amendment tabled 7-V. Jones
2025-05-26Record vote RV#3579
2025-05-26Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
2025-05-26Amendment(s) offered 8-Patterson
2025-05-26Point of order withdrawn (amendment) Rule 11, Section 2
2025-05-26Amendment withdrawn 8-Patterson
2025-05-26Passed to 3rd reading as amended
2025-05-26Record vote RV#3580
2025-05-26Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
2025-05-24Considered in Calendars
2025-05-23Committee report sent to Calendars
2025-05-22Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
2025-05-22Committee report distributed
2025-05-16Considered in formal meeting
2025-05-16Committee substitute considered in committee
2025-05-16Reported favorably as substituted
2025-05-07Considered in public hearing
2025-05-07Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
2025-05-07Left pending in committee
2025-05-06Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
2025-04-09Read first time
2025-04-09Referred to Public Education
2025-03-20Received from the Senate
2025-03-19Rules suspended-Regular order of business
2025-03-19Record vote
2025-03-19Read 2nd time
2025-03-19Amendment(s) offered FA1 Paxton
2025-03-19Amended
2025-03-19Vote recorded in Journal
2025-03-19Passed to engrossment as amended
2025-03-19Record vote
2025-03-19Rules suspended-Regular order of business
2025-03-19Record vote
2025-03-19Read 3rd time
2025-03-19Passed
2025-03-19Record vote
2025-03-19Statement(s) submitted
2025-03-19Reported engrossed
2025-03-18Placed on intent calendar
2025-03-05Reported favorably as substituted
2025-03-05Committee report printed and distributed
2025-03-04Considered in public hearing
2025-03-04Vote taken in committee
2025-02-27Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
2025-02-27Considered in public hearing
2025-02-27Testimony taken in committee
2025-02-27Left pending in committee
2025-02-13Read first time
2025-02-13Referred to Education K-16
2025-02-12Received by the Secretary of the Senate
2025-02-12Filed