This amendment would make the following changes to House Bill 119: 1.

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates this amendment was defeated, meaning none of its provisions are currently active law.

Amendment to House Bill 119 on School Library Reviews

This proposed amendment would temporarily remove challenged library books from student access, limit how often the same book can be reviewed, and allow school district residents to file objections.

What This Bill Does

• Requires that library materials under review be removed from student access until a decision is made within 30 days of receiving an objection.
• Allows school staff to keep accessing the reviewed materials during the entire process, including any appeals.
• Limits new reviews of specific books by requiring at least one year between the end of a previous review and filing a new objection.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students accessing school library materials
• School staff members

Limits and Unknowns

• This amendment was defeated in the House on May 22, 2025, so it did not become law.
• The official text does not define what specific actions constitute a 'bad actor' or explain how repeated challenges are identified.

Official Summary Text

This amendment would make the following changes to House Bill 119:
1. Require school library materials under review to be briefly removed from student access during the review process. School staff would continue to have access during the review period. The review would be required to be completed within 30 days of the initial receipt of the objection.
2. Limit the review of any specific school library material by requiring a one-year period between the end of the review process and the filing of a new objection. This change would prevent bad actors from seeking to keep targeted material out of circulation by filing repeated challenges.
3. Expand those with standing to file an objection to school library material to include school district residents. The current language of the bill would exclude potential objections of most school district residents and taxpayers. This aspect of the amendment seeks to correct this inadvertent oversight by including these stakeholders.

Current Bill Text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Dukes

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 3

TO

HOUSE BILL NO. 119

AMEND House Bill No. 119 by deleting lines 102 through 104 in their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof:

“

(1) Require that library material under review due to an objection be removed for access by students until the review process is concluded within 30 days of receipt of the objection. School staff may continue to access the material during the review process, including any appeals.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 119 by inserting after line 104 the following:

“

(4) Material that has been previously reviewed will not be considered for further review within one year of the conclusion of the previous process.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 119 by inserting after line 109 the following:

“

(4) A resident of the area served by the school district.

”.

SYNOPSIS

This amendment would make the following changes to House Bill 119:

1. Require school library materials under review to be briefly removed from student access during the review process. School staff would continue to have access during the review period. The review would be required to be completed within 30 days of the initial receipt of the objection.

2. Limit the review of any specific school library material by requiring a one-year period between the end of the review process and the filing of a new objection. This change would prevent bad actors from seeking to keep targeted material out of circulation by filing repeated challenges.

3. Expand those with standing to file an objection to school library material to include school district residents. The current language of the bill would exclude potential objections of most school district residents and taxpayers. This aspect of the amendment seeks to correct this inadvertent oversight by including these stakeholders.