Bill advancing at Texas Capitol gives school boards, parents process to remove books in public school libraries
New bill would give Texas parents more control over books in public school libraries
New bill would give Texas parents more control over books in public school libraries
Texas lawmakers are taking a step closer to passing a bill that will give local school boards the ability to pull books from school library shelves.
Parents will also be able to challenge books in the school libraries under the legislation.
The Texas House passed Senate Bill 13, authored by Senator Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, along party lines Monday.
Lawmakers in the House were set to give final approval Tuesday, but that has been pushed back until Wednesday morning. From the House, the measure will return to the Senate to review changes made by the House.
Under the legislation, the state will establish a definition for harmful materials. According to legislative records, indecent content would portray sex organs or activities in a way that's patently offensive. Profane content would include grossly offensive language considered a public nuisance.
There is a difference between the House and Senate versions in at least one provision, which allows the creation of a school library advisory council.
The Senate version says it should be mandatory, while the House version says it should be optional.
Republicans, including Representative Brad Buckley of Salado, support the bill because it gives more local control.
"Senate Bill 13 understands that too often, for too long, libraries have been filled with agendas," said Buckley. "It's time to end that. But the way to end it is to empower our local leaders and our parents locally to find some resolution."
Democrats, including Representative Mihaela Plesa of Dallas, expressed concerns over the legislation and said she opposes it.
"Senate Bill 13 may not call itself censorship, but in effect is the same thing: giving the government the authority to decide what stories are too uncomfortable, too complicated or too real for our students to read," Plesa said.
In addition to Senate Bill 13, the Texas House gave final passage to Senate Bill 6. It will allow ERCOT, the power grid operator, the ability to shut off power to large customers, such as data centers, during emergency situations. Those customers would have to have backup power.
It comes as ERCOT has forecast that demand for power will surge in Texas by 2030. The bill will have to go back to the Texas Senate to work out differences.
Watch Eye On Politics at 7:30 Sunday morning on CBS News Texas on air and streaming
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
30 minutes ago
- CBS News
University of Michigan starts new programs for their first-year applicants
The new school year is approaching, and the University of Michigan is adding an early decision program to its undergraduate application process, and will begin admitting students into two new first-year undergraduate programs. Applications to the university for the 2026-2027 year open Aug. 1. Under the early decision program, prospective first-year students must apply by Nov. 1 to be eligible to receive their admission response by late January. With early decision also comes early action, meaning students who are accepted must commit by May 1. In the application, a written signed agreement is required by the applicant, a parent or guardian, and their high school counselor. If accepted, the applicant must withdraw other applications from all colleges and universities. "As we approach the start of an academic year with what is likely to be a record number of undergraduate students, we are excited to offer this new approach to the undergraduate application process at the university," said Laurie McCauley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. "The introduction of Early Decision at U-M allows high-achieving undergraduate students to affirm their commitment to the university earlier in the application process and enjoy peace of mind during the rest of their senior year of high school." The university encourages highly qualified students who already know that the university is their first choice to take advantage of this option. Students who are still exploring their options can still apply with the regular decision options, which allow students to apply by Feb. 1, 2026. Participating in any of the above applications will allow students to be eligible for available financial aid. Regardless of the process, admissions staff will still use the same holistic application review and selection process. Once admitted, students can choose two newly added programs from Michigan's catalog. Each of these new programs will be available as options for the University of Michigan's 2026-2027 prospective first-year students.
Fox News
31 minutes ago
- Fox News
FNC Correspondent Matt Finn reports on Latest Trump Approved ICE raids
Matt Finn, Fox News National Correspondent, joined Guy Benson to discuss the latest on what happened during Trump administration-approved ICE raids of marijuana farms in California. Matt also shares his experience in Westwood, CA and how disgusting it looks today despite high rental and housing prices.
Forbes
37 minutes ago
- Forbes
Republicans Block Epstein Files Release As Backlash From Some Top MAGA Figures Dwindles
Some Republicans on Monday blocked a measure to release documents detailing the federal government's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, while others in his base suggested they'd move on from the controversy surrounding the Justice Department's decision to withhold the files. President Donald Trump waves as he walks from Marine One to board Air Force One at Joint Base ... More Andrews, Maryland on July 15, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Seven Republicans on the House Rules Committee opposed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., that would have required Congress to vote whether to release the documents, while one Republican, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., voted with the five Democrats on the committee in favor of the measure. Democrats have seized on the anger among some in Trump's base over the Justice Department's announcement last week that it would not release any new details on the Epstein probe, despite suggestions from some top Trump officials that more information was forthcoming. Some of the right-wing backlash—which included calls for Attorney General Pam Bondi to resign—has died down since Trump urged his supporters over the weekend to move on from the controversy and defended Bondi. Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who previously called for the purported Epstein list to be released, said Monday he is 'done talking about Epstein for the time being' and would trust Trump's administration to 'solve it,' watering down his criticism last week of the Trump administration's handing of the memo. Conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza also told his viewers it was 'time to move on' from the Epstein probe and unify behind Trump by 'recognizing you can't win 'em all.' Republican leaders in Congress have also echoed Trump, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who told reporters Monday 'I think the president's expressed his views on it, and so I'll just leave it at that,' while House Majority Leader Mike Johnson, R-La., also said 'the White House has a lot more information about that than I'm privy to . . . so I'll have to trust that they'll make the right decision.' 'We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein. For years, it's Epstein, over and over again,' Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday, calling the Epstein files 'Radical Left inspired Documents' written by Democrats. Contra Not all Republicans in Congress have fallen in line with Trump's messaging strategy. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., told Axios 'I don't understand why they're hiding what they're hiding,' while Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, told the outlet 'there's just some things that don't pass the sniff test.' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., also continued to express disappointment over the Justice Department decision, telling The New York Times 'it's definitely a full reversal on what was said beforehand, and people are just not willing to accept it,' referring to previous statements from administration officials suggesting the documents would be released. The Justice Department in a memo last week said it would not release any more files on its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. It also repeated its determinations that Epstein died by suicide in jail and that no so-called 'Epstein list' of clients exists. Trump's base has largely targeted Bondi over the agency's refusal to release the documents, with some calling for her termination, after she said in a Fox News interview earlier this year the purported list was on her desk. The White House walked back the statement last week and said Bondi was referring to the documents in their entirety. Further Reading Tucker Carlson Blasts Pam Bondi For 'A Bunch Of Ludicrous Claims' About Epstein Files—As Backlash Mounts (Forbes) Trump Sounded Hesitant About Releasing Epstein Files In Newly Resurfaced Interview (Forbes) Pam Bondi Under Fire From MAGA —Megyn Kelly, Laura Loomer And More—Over Epstein Probe (Forbes)
