Texas Senate Bill SB1702

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 2/27/25

Caption

Relating to a parent's right to receive notice each time the parent's child obtains a school library material.

Impact

The bill specifies that school districts must maintain an updated list of parents to notify and must process opt-out requests for notifications. This change may significantly shift how school libraries operate, particularly in the realm of transparency concerning the literary materials accessible to students. While intended to protect children and involve parents more actively, it might also impose additional administrative burdens on school districts trying to comply with new notification requirements.

Summary

SB1702 is a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing parental controls by ensuring that parents are notified each time their children check out materials from school libraries. This notice must be provided via email and should include details such as the title and author of the material being borrowed. The intention behind this bill is to empower parents with more information about their children's reading choices, thereby fostering parental involvement in educational content consumption.

Contention

The introduction of SB1702 has sparked discussions about the balance of parental involvement versus children’s independence in choosing reading materials. Proponents argue that it reinforces parental control and promotes child safety regarding exposure to certain types of content. Opponents may express concerns about the potential for overreach and excessive monitoring, which could infringe on students' rights to access diverse literature and undermine their capacity for independent judgment.

Implementation

If passed, SB1702 is set to take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill's immediate implementation hinges on receiving a two-thirds majority vote in both legislative chambers. Without the requisite votes for immediate effect, the bill will still come into force on September 1, 2025, indicating a timeline for educational stakeholders to prepare for these changes.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Education Code

• Chapter 26. Parental Rights And Responsibilities
  • Section: New Section