Empire of Storms

Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

Approved by Governor

Ordered enrolled

Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

Approved by Governor

Signed by the Governor

Signed by Governor.

Effective date(s) 07/01/2024

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas meets statewide 3-district threshold (districts: Davis, Jordan, Washington).

Canyons School District (UT) adopts revised Policy 600.06 implementing HB 29 and HB 374 requirements. Policy establishes dual-track review for objective and subjective sensitive material, 10/45/60/45-day timelines, 2-challenge-per-parent-per-year limit, 3-strikes rule for unsuccessful challengers, 5-year cool-down after successful defense, and HB 29 statewide removal threshold. Notable: 'The District will not give deference to sensitive material reviews conducted by other educational entities.'

SB 13 heads to House floor. Texas Freedom Network hosts Read-In protest inside Texas Capitol chamber steps, with students, educators, parents, bookstore owners opposing the bill.

Gov. Greg Abbott signs SB 13 into law. Establishes school library advisory councils (majority parents), requires removal of "profane," "indecent," or "sexually explicit" content.

Signed by the Governor

Federal Judge Carlos Mendoza (U.S. Middle District of FL) rules in Penguin Random House v. Gibson that HB 1069 provision targeting "descriptions of sexual conduct" is unconstitutionally overbroad. Named 23 books and stated "none of these books are obscene." The mandate to remove books with even a single reference to prohibited subject matter violates students' First Amendment right of free access to ideas. Parts requiring a process for challenging books were NOT struck down.

SB 13 takes effect for 2025-2026 school year. New Braunfels ISD begins removing 1,540+ books under the law.

ACLU of Utah files federal lawsuit on behalf of authors Elana K. Arnold, Ellen Hopkins, Kurt Vonnegut estate, and two Utah high schoolers. 59-page complaint calls HB 29 "modern-day book burning" and challenges it as violating First Amendment rights. Defendants: USBE, AG Derek Brown, Salt Lake City/Davis/Washington County school districts.

Proposed expansion HB 197 (School Materials Amendments) fails in Senate. Would have required automated content filters and immediate bans on "plausible" complaints. See law #140.

Jacksonville group proposed banning three books from Duval County Public Schools, citing violation of state law regarding sexual content

Utah statewide banned book list grows to 32 titles under HB 29's 3-district threshold. Four new books added: The Bluest Eye (Toni Morrison), Life is Funny (E.R. Frank), The Haters (Jesse Andrews), and People Kill People (Ellen Hopkins). Reported by Davis and Jordan districts (all four); Washington County SD reported 3 of 4; Tooele County reported People Kill People. The Bluest Eye (Toni Morrison) is the most historically significant addition — a Nobel laureate's Pulitzer-Prize-nominated work now on Utah's statewide prohibited list.