Banned Index

Laws

State and federal legislation related to book bans, library restrictions, and educational content restrictions. Every law is tracked with a full legislative timeline and linked sources.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

SF 496

UpheldA court has ruled that this law is constitutional and may be enforced.

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, authorizing the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district in certain specified circumstances, prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in kindergarten through grade six, and modifying provisions related to student health screenings, school district library programs, the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, the department of education, the board of educational examiners, and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools, competent private instruction, and special education, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1145.) Effective date: 05/26/2023, 07/01/2023.

Passed Mar 202319 linked books

HF 2622

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act relating to public libraries, including eligibility requirements for state assistance and oversight by city councils.(Formerly HSB 720.)

HSB 720

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act relating to public libraries, including eligibility requirements for state assistance and oversight by city councils.(See HF 2622.)

HF 2309

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act relating to public library requirements for materials harmful to minors, and providing civil and criminal penalties, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

SF 2177

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act relating to policies and protection measures a library provider or third party contracting with a library provider must take if the library provider or third party offers digital library services.

SF 2119

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act relating to obscenity exemptions for public libraries and educational institutions.

HF 558

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act prohibiting certain materials in public libraries in counties and cities, authorizing civil actions, and providing civil penalties.

HF 554

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act relating to public schools, including by modifying provisions related to school district library programs and requests to remove educational materials from classrooms and school libraries.

HF 521

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act relating to obscenity exemptions for public libraries and educational institutions.(Formerly HF 274.)

SF 347

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act prohibiting certain materials in public libraries in counties and cities, authorizing civil actions, and providing civil penalties.

SF 235

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act relating to obscenity exemptions for public libraries and educational institutions.

HF 274

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act relating to obscenity exemptions for public libraries and educational institutions.(See HF 521.)

SF 181

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act establishing requirements related to electronic resources provided by postsecondary schools, public libraries, schools, and state agencies to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade twelve, providing penalties, and including effective date provisions.

SF 113

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including by modifying provisions related to a parent's or guardian's rights to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, the educational program and human growth and development curriculum provided to students enrolled in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, student health screenings, school district library programs, special education, and other duties of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools.

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

New Hampshire

New Jersey

A 2312

AdvancedThe bill has passed one chamber (House or Senate) and moved to the other.

Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images.

Passed Mar 2026

A3446

SignedThe governor has signed the bill into law.

"Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians.

Passed Dec 2024

A 230

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Requires DOE to develop model policies for ensuring parental notification of sexually explicit content in curriculum; requires board of education to provide parental notification of sexually explicit content in curriculum.

S 922

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

"Protecting Students from Obscene Material in School Libraries Act."

S 2625

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images.

A 2715

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

"Radical Regimes Education Act"; requires age-appropriate instruction on certain governmental regimes in grades nine through 12.

A 912

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

"Protecting Students from Obscene Material in School Libraries Act."

New Mexico

New York

S 08630

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Requires each board of education to adopt a written policy for reconsideration of school library materials and make such policy available on its website; requires such policies to include provisions for the creation of a reconsideration committee to review complaints regarding school library materials; requires the commissioner of education to develop one or more model policies for school districts.

A 09537

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Requires boards of education to adopt written policies for reconsideration of school library materials following complaints regarding such materials; requires the commissioner of education to develop one or more model policies for school districts.

A 05416

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Relates to enacting the "books save lives act"; requires public school libraries receiving state aid to maintain a collection of diverse books.

A 05464

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; requires the development of policies for removal of materials; establishes protections for school library media specialists and librarians against harassment and discrimination in employment related to the refusal to remove library materials.

A 05995

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Prohibits libraries and library systems, including school libraries and school library systems from banning books or other materials based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

S 02423

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Prohibits libraries and library systems, including school libraries and school library systems from banning books or other materials based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

S 04680

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Requires school boards to make the final decision on whether to keep, remove, or restrict access to an instructional material in a school library; establishes a review process for formal complaints concerning instructional materials that are the subject of complaints.

S 09559

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Prohibits libraries and library systems, including school libraries and school library systems from banning books or other materials based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

HB 860

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

In terms and courses of study, providing for prohibited review of curriculum, instructional materials and voluntary inquiry material in public school entities.

SB 230

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

In terms and courses of study, providing for parental control relating to instructional materials and books containing sexually explicit content.

SB 315

SignedThe governor has signed the bill into law.

An act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," in preliminary provisions, further providing for Special Education Funding Commission and for minimum number of days or hours; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, providing for admission fees for school-sponsored activities; in intermediate units, further providing for staff; in certification of teachers, further providing for certificates qualifying persons to teach and for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and duties of department, providing for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and for State certificate fee reduction, further providing for standard employment application, for career and technical instructional certificate, for program of continuing professional and paraprofessional education and for postbaccalaureate certification, providing for assessment of basic skills, further providing for professional educator discipline fee and providing for career and technical administrative director certification flexibility; in pupils and attendance, further providing for attendance policy at charter, regional charter and cyber charter schools, for procedure when child is truant, for procedure by school when child habitually truant, for procedure upon filing of citation, for penalties for violating compulsory school attendance requirements and for study of truancy procedure, providing for department supports to prevent truancy and further providing for reports to Superintendent of Public Instruction and for exceptional children and education and training; in student supports, further providing for definitions; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions, for School Safety and Security Committee, for school safety and security assessment providers, for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator and for school safety and security training, providing for school safety and mental health grants for 2025-2026 school year and further providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding; in school security, further providing for training, for school resource officers, for school security guards and for duties of commission; in Safe2Say Program, further providing for intent, for definitions, for Safe2Say Program and for annual report; in threat assessment, further providing for definitions, for threat assessment teams and for threat assessment guidelines, training and information materials; in Drug and Alcohol Recovery High School Program, further providing for scope of program and selection of students and for enrollment of students; in evidence-based reading instruction, further providing for definitions and providing for school entity duties related to evidence-based reading instruction, for school entity duties related to reading screening, for reading deficiency identification and parental notification, for reading intervention plans, for grant program, for funding, for reporting, for accountability and for construction; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts and providing for Free Application for Federal Student Aid; in interscholastic athletics accountability, further providing for council recommendations and standards; in charter schools, further providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for enrollment and notification and for enrollee wellness checks; in career and technical education, further providing for capital reserve fund for approved purchases of equipment and facility maintenance, for career and technical education equipment grants, for Cosmetology Training through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program and for Barber Training through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program; providing for Nursing Shortage Assistance Program; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in the State System of Higher Education, further providing for definitions and for Grow Pennsylvania Merit Scholarship Program; in educational tax credits, further providing for limitations; in higher education accountability and transparency, further providing for exit counseling; in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to State-related university performance-based funding model, further providing for prohibition on scholarship displacement at public institutions of higher education and providing for cooperation and for State scholarship renewals; in institutions of higher education, further providing for powers and duties of State Board of Higher Education, for definitions, for Performance-based Funding Council and for public institution of higher education reporting, providing for State-related University Performance Fund, for performance-based funding formula and for public accountability and further providing for agency duties, for grant priority and for report; in Ready-to-Succeed Scholarship, further providing for agency; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2025-2026; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for student-weighted basic education funding beginning with 2023-2024 school year, for extraordinary special education program expenses, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status and for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; abrogating regulations; and making an editorial change.

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

SB 13

EffectiveThe law is now in effect and enforceable.

Relating to public school library materials, including the establishment of school library advisory councils.

Passed May 20251000 linked books

HB 3225

AdvancedThe bill has passed one chamber (House or Senate) and moved to the other.

Relating to the restriction of access by minors to sexually explicit materials in municipal public library collections; providing a civil penalty.

Passed May 2025

SB 12

SignedThe governor has signed the bill into law.

Relating to parental rights in public education, to certain public school requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction, diversity, equity, and inclusion duties, and social transitioning, and to student clubs at public schools.

Passed Mar 202515 linked books

SB 1621

SignedThe governor has signed the bill into law.

Relating to prosecution and punishment of certain criminal offenses prohibiting sexually explicit visual material involving depictions of children, computer-generated children, or other persons; creating criminal offenses; increasing criminal penalties.

Passed Mar 2025

HB 900

SignedThe governor has signed the bill into law.

Relating to the regulation of library materials sold to or included in public school libraries.

Passed Apr 2023163 linked books

HB 3979

SignedThe governor has signed the bill into law.

Relating to the social studies curriculum in public schools.

Passed May 2021

HB 7

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Relating to parental rights in public education, to the creation of the office of inspector general at the Texas Education Agency, and to the reporting of certain misconduct and child abuse and neglect; creating a criminal offense.

SB 2101

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Relating to the prohibition of access by minors to sexually explicit materials in municipal public library collections; providing a civil penalty.

HB 5460

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Relating to the display of sexually explicit material in public libraries.

HB 5021

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Relating to the standards for public school library materials.

HB 183

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Relating to the regulation and the review of certain library materials included in public school libraries.

HB 4056

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Relating to school district policies regarding the selection, removal, and replacement of library materials.

HB 4198

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Relating to the standards for a school district's library collection development policies; providing a civil penalty.

HB 4354

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Relating to access to certain public school library materials.

HB 4448

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Relating to an automated artificial intelligence review of library material purchased by public schools; providing an administrative penalty.

HB 4911

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Relating to prosecution and punishment of certain criminal offenses prohibiting sexually explicit visual material involving depictions of children, computer-generated children, or other persons; creating criminal offenses; increasing criminal penalties.

HB 5485

IntroducedThe bill has been filed in a legislative chamber but has not yet been voted on.

Relating to the standards for a school district's library collection development policies; providing a civil penalty.

US

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Legislative data provided by LegiScan. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.