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Delegates pass memorial urging protection against book bans in schools
Summary
House Memorial (HB 4.22) urging protection of students' access to books passed after debate that highlighted concerns about censorship, students’ access to diverse perspectives, and legal recourse for harmful bans.
Delegates approved House Memorial 4.22, a measure framed as a defense of intellectual freedom in schools. The author, Mason Bridgeman, urged delegates to protect students’ access to books such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Maus, arguing that book bans threaten free speech and students’ intellectual development. Supporters described personal experiences and cited cases where students and teachers were punished for possessing certain books; proponents said the memorial would recognize such abridgments and provide a legal basis to challenge school-level bans.
Opponents asked practical and jurisdictional questions about whether the memorial would override local school-board authority or lead to federalization of education policy. The author described the memorial as a recognition of constitutional rights and said affected families could take disputes to court. After debate and closing remarks, the chamber voted to pass the memorial.
The memorial passed during today’s session; delegates were reminded that it is a memorial (a formal statement) rather than an immediate statutory change.
