1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session SENATE MINORITY REPORT AMENDMENTS TO SENATE BILL 1098 By Nonconcurring Members of COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION March 26 On page 1 of the printed bill, line 2, after the first semicolon delete the rest of the line and line 3 and insert “and declaring an emergency.”. After line 3, insert: “Whereas the Legislative Assembly finds that access to educational and library materials in Oregon schools has a direct and long-lasting generational impact that requires in-depth study and broad understanding; and “Whereas the Legislative Assembly finds that the fundamental right to freedom of speech is a cornerstone of a healthy society and state; and “Whereas Oregon appropriated $10.2 billion for distribution through the State School Fund for the 2023-2025 biennium, and the average operating expenditure in the 2021-2022 school year was $16,574 per student; and “Whereas 75 percent of eighth graders in Oregon could not reach reading proficiency targets in 2022; and “Whereas the Legislative Assembly finds that no one has a more vested interest in the quality of their youth’s education and curriculum than the parents within each local community where they live; and “Whereas the United States Supreme Court has recognized the importance of balancing free speech and the rights of parents and students regarding the curriculum within students’ classrooms; and “Whereas the Director of the Department of Education has publicly stated a desire to issue ‘sanctions’ against local school districts and a willingness to ‘take over school districts’ if necessary; and “Whereas the community of Canby, Oregon, exhibited the best of Oregon by engaging local community stakeholders throughout the review process of educational materials and empowering students, parents, teachers, librarians, community leaders and others in balancing their students’ rights to both free speech and their adolescence; and “Whereas the Legislative Assembly finds that books do exist that are inappropriate and that should not be in our schools because they contain graphic violence, are sexually explicit, contain vulgar language, lack literary merit or educational value or are not age appropriate; and “Whereas Senate Bill 1098 has enormous unknown impacts and implications that demand thoughtful and complete consideration from a wide variety of diverse viewpoints and expert opinions before embarking on a course potentially riddled with negative consequences; and “Whereas the curricula and libraries of the public schools of this state should be as diverse as the people who make up the State of Oregon and should be filled with age-appropriate materials; LC 4587/SB 1098-MR2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 and “Whereas local school districts and school district boards are best suited to evaluate materials for their appropriateness; now, therefore,”. Delete lines 5 through 26 and delete pages 2 through 4 and insert: “SECTION 1. Section 2 of this 2025 Act is added to and made a part of ORS 337.030 to 337.260. “SECTION 2.(1) As used in this section, ‘school library’ means any collection of educa- tional or literary materials that are: “(a) Nonfiction or fiction; “(b) Available in print or an electronic format; and “(c) Made available to students at a public school of this state at a central location of the school or at a common area for one or more grades of the school. “(2) Each school district board shall adopt a policy related to the selection and removal of materials available at a school library. The policy must provide that: “(a) The school district is responsible for the acquisition and removal of materials avail- able at the school library; and “(b) Individuals may recommend the acquisition or the removal of materials available at the school library, but decisions shall be made by the school district. “SECTION 3. This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect on its passage.”. /s/ Noah Robinson Senator /s/ Suzanne Weber Senator SMRA to SB 1098 Page 2