Some Texas senators are considering strengthening a state law meant to give parents more control over what’s in school libraries.
During a Senate Education Committee hearing Wednesday, lawmakers heard about what some speakers called loopholes in
, one of a slate of “parental rights” bills passed in the last session. It gave school boards, instead of librarians, final say on the materials allowed in school libraries, and gave districts the option of creating School Library Advisory Councils to oversee approval of new books.
Denton-area state Sen. Brent Hagenbuch said despite the law, some books containing explicit material still remain in school libraries.
He cited a podcast with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and conservative and controversial activist Bonnie Wallace, who told Patrick “20% of school districts” have removed books by local councils, “but 80% have done nothing.” Books she deems indecent, profane or educationally unsuitable remain or