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Committee backs clarification on parental notification for explicit instructional material amid heated testimony

Senate of Virginia — Education Subcommittee (Senate Committee Room C 311) · January 16, 2026

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Summary

SB 19 would clarify a code section on parental notice for explicit instructional materials and insulate library materials from misapplication; supporters including school librarians and library associations said the change restores legislative intent, while faith and parent groups urged opposition; the subcommittee reported the bill 3–2.

Sen. Locke introduced SB 19 as a clarification to existing law governing parental notification of explicit instructional material in public schools. The sponsor emphasized the measure "does not remove or weaken the responsibility of schools to notify parents about their children's educational content" and said the change was intended to prevent the code section from being used as a basis for removing library books.

Supporters included Phil Abraham of the Virginia Library Association and Heather Murphy, a public‑school librarian and legislative coordinator for the Virginia Association of School Librarians, who said the change "maintains a law instructing public schools to notify parents" while protecting students' access to information. "SB 19 clarifies the original intent of the law," Murphy said.

Opponents, including Dr. Michael Huffman of the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists, the Virginia Catholic Conference and the Family Foundation, argued the bill would expand access to materials they consider inappropriate and limit local school boards' ability to remove explicit content. "How does it help a third grader...to learn about things of explicit acts?" Huffman asked.

Committee counsel confirmed the bill does not prohibit parental conversations or change existing requirements that policies ensure notification and the option for alternative instructional material. After five‑minute rounds of testimony and questions, the subcommittee voted to recommend reporting SB 19 to the full committee by a 3–2 margin.