Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB560

Introduced
4/10/25  

Caption

Public school libraries; collection development and acquisition policies provided for, local school advisory councils created, mechanism for written challenge of library materials provided, rights of parents provided for, State Board of Education authorized to adopt rules

Impact

The legislation aims to enhance parental involvement in school library operations, fostering an environment where parents can restrict their children's access to specific materials. It establishes local school library advisory councils composed mostly of parents who will advise on new acquisitions and challenges. This local governance approach emphasizes community values in library materials, reflecting regional differences in cultural and moral standards. The bill is expected to have significant implications for school libraries, as the obligation to remove challenged materials could lead to a reevaluation of existing catalogs.

Summary

House Bill 560 is designed to regulate the acquisition and management of library materials in public K-12 schools. It mandates that local boards of education create and enforce policies prohibiting the acquisition of library materials deemed harmful to minors. The bill also requires that all library materials be approved by the local board of education before they can be included in school library catalogs, ensuring that parents have a say in what is accessible to their children in school libraries. It introduces a formal challenge process for parents and community members to contest the presence of certain materials in school libraries.

Contention

While proponents argue that the bill empowers parents and protects children from inappropriate content, critics voice concerns over potential censorship and the stifling of free access to literature. There are fears that the process to challenge library materials could be misused, leading to the removal of educational resources that are essential for comprehensive learning. The bill's framework allows for significant community influence which can vary greatly from one district to another, thereby creating a 'patchwork' of school library policies across the state.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

AL HB477

Employees of local boards of education; twelve weeks of paid parental leave following birth of child, placement of child for adoption, miscarriage, or stillbirth provided for; State Board of Education authorized to adopt rules

AL SB305

Employees of local boards of education; twelve weeks of paid parental leave following birth of child, placement of child for adoption, miscarriage, or stillbirth provided for; State Board of Education authorized to adopt rules

AL SB10

Libraries, provides that county & municipal library boards serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities

AL HB216

Public school safety, silent panic alert technology required and provided for, Board of Education required to adopt rules

AL SB157

Public education employees; exclusion of students from classroom, provided for; principal authorized to suspend, expel, or recommend for alternative school certain students excluded from classroom; civil and criminal immunity provided to education employees; local boards of education authorized to reimburse or compensate employees for certain legal fees; rebuttable presumption, created; Board of Education, required to adopt rules

AL HB88

True School Choice for Alabama Act, established to provide education savings accounts (ESAs) for parents of children to use in providing education services for those children.

AL HB278

Career and technical education in public K-12 schools; home school student participation, authorized; State Board of Education, required to adopt rules

AL HB425

Provision of sexual content to minor, prohibited; libraries prohibited from purchasing certain sexual content; certain entities prohibited from affiliating with American Library Assn.; cause of action, created; exception to Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act for libraries and library employees, repealed

AL HB59

Public preK-12 schools, chaplains; public schools, authorized to hire or accept as volunteers; local boards of education and governing bodies, required to vote on whether to allow; limitations, provided

AL SB48

Public K-12 Education, posting of curricula on school websites required, parents or guardians authorized to examine materials upon request

Similar Bills

TX SB13

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.

TX SB34

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

TX SB13

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

CA AB2364

Rural Education Task Force.

TX HB5251

Relating to a school district's library materials and catalog, the creation of local school library advisory councils, and parental rights regarding public school library catalogs and access by the parent's child to library materials and to affirmative defenses to prosecution for certain offenses involving material or conduct that is obscene or otherwise harmful to children.

CA SB482

Salton Sea: long-term strategy.

IL SB1787

SCH CD-RURAL ED ADVIS COUNCIL

HI HB196

Relating To Port Workers.