Something no representative on either side of the political aisle seems to understand about Senate Bill 13 is that it’s not “House Bill 900 is not working” as the book banners like to claim. It’s that the 40 or so book banners who are driving their movement for the whole state refuse to take “no” for an answer.

The Texas House Committee on Public Education will consider SB 13 on Tuesday, May 6 at 8am. We are running out of time to stop this bill- that threatens to destroy Texas public school libraries- from becoming law. If you are a Texas parent, retired or current school librarian, or supporter of public school libraries of any kind, and you have been saving yourself to testify on ONE bill this session- please join the parents behind Texas Freedom to Read Project, in Austin, on Tuesday and speak up against SB 13.

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."

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! 

(Update as of May 5, 2025)- HB 3225 has been put on the calendar to be heard by the full House on Thursday, May 8. Contact your local rep now and ask them to "vote no on HB 3225."

(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.

{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.