Oregon Senate passes bill barring discrimination as reason to remove school library materials

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 10 98 on March 31, a measure that forbids removing or refusing to select school library or instructional materials when the motivation is unlawful discrimination against a protected group.

The bill, as carried on the floor by Senator Frederick, directs that school review processes for challenged materials must not be used to discriminate on grounds identified in the statute cited in the bill (referenced in debate as ORS 6 59.85). The measure keeps existing local committees and school-board review in place and allows appeals to the Oregon Department of Education for complaints that allege discriminatory motives.

Supporters said the bill protects students’ access to a broad range of books and prevents local or out-of-district actors from using book challenges to exclude works by or about marginalized groups. “The bill…