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Sign the Petition: Stop Book Bans in Texas

Stop Book Bans in Texas

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Texas Freedom to Read Project, launched in December 2023, seeks to connect, support & mobilize parent led groups fighting to protect students' right to read throughout the state.

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News & Updates

Read the latest news & updates from Texas Freedom to Read Project.

Protect Texas Public Libraries, Stop SB 2101

April 25, 2025

Senate Bill 2101, will be heard in the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee at 9am on Monday, April 28, 2025. Like its identical companion bill, House Bill 3225, Senate Bill 2101 is what Texas Freedom to Read Project cofounder, Frank Strong, describes as "a screaming red alarm for people who care about books, about the freedom to read, or about libraries."

Two Texas Book Bills You Can Act On Today!

April 21, 2025

The 89th Texas Legislative Session is in full swing. We're seeing some movement on several bills that would have significant negative impacts on public school and municipal libraries, booksellers, librarians and educators. Texans continue to face unprecedented threats to our freedom to read, but we are also seeing strong opposition to lots of the bad bills being debated and considered. We have no idea what bills will make it over the finish line and become law, but we know we are proud of the response we have seen our fellow Texans raise so far. Let's look at some of the bills we are tracking, and identify some steps you can take today to continue fighting against book bans and censorship in Texas, today! 

Censorship Deep in the Heart of Texas: Even State Flags Aren't Safe

April 15, 2025

We have unlocked a new level of dystopian, book-banning, and censorship hell in Texas. Students in Lamar Consolidated ISD, a rapidly growing, mid-size public school district located west of Houston, can no longer learn about the state of Virginia on their online research database, Pebble Go Next. In response to a public records request filed by Texas Freedom to Read Project, LCISD acknowledged that "Virginia" has been removed from Pebble Go Next, due to the lesson violating the school board's local library policy- EFB Local- for "frontal nudity."   

Stop House Bill 3225

April 10, 2025

(Update as of April 25, 2025)- the identical Senate Companion Bill 2101 for HB 3225, is scheduled for a committee hearing in Austin on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 9am. Info and calls to action can be found here.  By Frank Strong- originally published on Frank's Substack: Anger & Clarity.  House Bill 3225 will be heard in the Texas House of Representatives State Affairs Committee at 8:00 a.m next Monday, April 14. This is a screaming red alarm for people who care about books, about the freedom to read, or about libraries.

Criminalizing Teachers Won't Protect Texas Kids.

March 18, 2025

In case you missed it, Texas bills like Mayes Middleton's SB412 and Jared Patterson's HB267 proposing to eliminate the affirmative defense for education, scientific and governmental reasons aren't actually going to do a whole lot to protect children because they maintain the exception that protects an adult married to a child to give that child spouse "obscene or otherwise harmful" material (ie pornography).

Call and Email Your Texas Senator to Oppose SB13 Before It's Too Late!

March 10, 2025

Last week, the Texas Senate K-16 Education Committee voted 10-1 (Senator José Menéndez was the lone dissenting vote) to send SB13 to the full Senate for a vote.  Senate Bill 13- which is Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's priority bill to "guard against inappropriate books in public schools" is listed on the Regular Order of Business and likely to be taken up for a vote by the full Texas senate very soon. Act now, before it's too late. 

Make Your Voice Heard: Oppose SB13

February 25, 2025

The Texas Senate K-16 Education Committee will hold a committee meeting and public hearing on a number of proposed senate bills on Thursday, February 27. The meeting is scheduled to start around 10am, and may last all day. Members of the public are invited to provide testimony on the bills listed on the hearing notice- including Senate Bill 13- which is Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's priority bill to "guard against inappropriate books in public schools." So now is the time to make plans to travel to Austin, and/or start emailing your elected representatives and committee members.

A new bill could ban Huck Finn and "Letter from Birmingham Jail" from Texas public schools

February 17, 2025

{Originally published by Frank Strong on his Substack: Anger & Clarity} On Wednesday, Texas State Senator Angela Paxton filed SB13, a bill that was listed as one of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities for this session with the purpose of “guarding against inappropriate books in public schools.” The full text of the bill is available here. Every Republican member of the Senate is listed as co-author.

How Much are Book Bans Costing Texas Tax Payers?

February 11, 2025

{Guest post by Leila Green Little} According to documents obtained from a public records request, the State of Texas has spent $179,897.54 on its defense so far in BookPeople, Inc., et al., v. Martha Wong, et al. This price tag results from over 1,600 hours of labor for the Office of the Attorney General’s office. And this is just the beginning—this cost will surely increase as the case goes to trial. Should the trend continue and the State of Texas eventually lose in the terminal stage of this lawsuit (as they most likely will), it will be responsible for paying the plaintiffs’ legal fees. 

Montgomery County Commissioners Court Puts Politics Above Public Interest

February 02, 2025

After several years of Montgomery County Memorial Public Library and librarians being subjected to slander, doxing and harassment by politicians and activists calling for the restriction and removal of diverse and inclusive books- especially age relevant children's and young adult books that center LGBTQ+ and BIPOC perspectives- the County Commissioners voted to appoint one of their own- the elected County Judge Mark Keough- as the director of the public library system. Judge Keough proceeded to immediately terminate the employment of Montgomery County's library director- Rhea Young. 
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