Latest news with #AB416
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Banning books prompts emotional testimony on both sides of proposed Nevada law
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Parents, political groups and a member of the Clark County school board slammed legislation that is aimed at ending local decisions to pull books off school library shelves during a legislative hearing in Carson City on Tuesday. Opponents called Assembly Bill 416 (AB416) a dangerous overreach and an attempt to silence parents. One opponent from the group 'Take Back the Classroom' read aloud a vulgar passage from a book that's allowed under school library rules. Lorena Biassotti, who represents District E on the Clark County School District Board of Trustees, described the bill as an effort to weaponize government against citizens. 'We're facing an epidemic of sexual impropriety in our schools, and this is your response? At a time when we should be taking steps to rebuild trust with parents who have fled public schools in droves, you instead chose to erode the love and authority we have over our children. Let's be clear, you're not stopping book bans. You're obstructing parents from removing obscene books like 'Gender Queer' that depict teenage oral sex from school libraries and charging them with felonies,' Biassotti said, testifying from Las Vegas. 'Has it occurred to you that maybe this is the reason for escalating tensions? These are not coordinated attacks. These are parents who are worried. Are concerned parents criminals to you?' she asked. Opponents said AB416 was too harsh in assigning a Category E felony charge for people who stand in the way of access to library materials or otherwise harass or threaten library or school employees. Democratic Assem. Brittney Miller, who sponsored the bill and led Tuesday's presentation in Carson City, introduced the bill as the hearing began. Nevada Democrat introduces proposal to ban book bans 'Assembly Bill 416 aims to protect students' rights to access information and prevent undue censorship in our schools, institutions of higher learning, and public libraries while also providing protection for our educators and library workers,' she said. The legislation is the product of collaboration with a variety groups, including 'a library board trustee who sadly is afraid to come forward for what she's already experienced and fear of further retribution,' Miller said. It comes amid 'a troubling rise' in attempts to ban books nationwide and in Nevada, she said. Democratic Assem. Erica Roth, looking for Miller to clarify what the bill actually does, said, 'All this bill does is put into statute from the state what we already follow and what the Supreme Court has already found to be the test regarding obscenities.' 'Yes,' Miller replied. Opponents ranging from individual parents to the leader of a political party harshly criticized the bill. 'The American Library Association should be held accountable for deceiving the public at the expense of children,' Lynn Chapman of Nevada Families for Freedom said. Parents and advocates who support the bill had plenty to say, too. 'My kids do not need to be protected from books. The only thing they might need protection from is bigots who want to erase them,' Tara De Quieroz said. She's the parent of two high school students. 'What's at stake here is more than just books on a shelf. It's the soul of the public education system, the integrity of our intellectual freedom and the safety of those who defend it,' Las Vegas resident Chandler Cook said. 'No student has been harmed by access to information, but countless students have been harmed by the absence of it. In an era of rising political aggression where educators have faced online abuse, threats and job loss, this protection is not just timely, it is essential. This bill does not say that all books belong on every shelf, but what it says is that no book should be removed simply because it makes someone uncomfortable, especially when that comfort is rooted in fear of difference, progress or truth,' Cook said. One of the bill's opponents referred to coverage on 8 News Now relevant to the debate. 'There was an article on 8 … Channel 8 News Now investigates, and it says, the heading is 'I don't like your d***': Las Vegas parents sue school district over daughter's pornographic assignment,' ' Joy Trushenski said. 'I don't like your d***,' Las Vegas parents sue school district over daughter's 'pornographic' assignment 'We are talking here about pornographic material being allowed, having our children allowed access to. And that is what I am against,' Trushenski said. 'This is so morally reprehensible and you should be ashamed of yourself for allowing that kind of stuff …' She was interrupted by Democratic Assem. Elaine Marzola, who was running the committee while Miller presented the bill. 'So, you are more than welcome to provide testimony, but I do not want you saying any disparaging things about this committee. And so if you would like to finish, you are more than welcome.' Trushenski apologized and continued her testimony in Carson City. Jeanine Hansen, leader of the Independent American Party, objected to efforts that intrude on parents' fundamental right over decisions for their children. 'We're very concerned that the process of our elected officials is removed unless we have the money to go to court and sue.' She said communities, parents, school boards and elected officials should be part of the process — not displaced by the Supreme Court's authority. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nevada Democrat introduces proposal to ban book bans
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A proposal in the Nevada Legislature would ban school districts and staff from banning books without a court order determining the material is obscene. Assembly Bill 416 from Democratic Assem. Brittney Miller, who is also chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, would prevent a school's governing body 'from limiting access to library materials by pupils under certain circumstances' and create penalties for people who essentially ban items from school libraries. 'Banning book bans is essential to upholding the First Amendment because it protects our fundamental right to free speech and the free exchange of ideas,' Miller said in a statement Monday. 'AB416 will ensure that individuals — not the government — decide what they read, write or think. Book bans silence voices, limit access to diverse perspectives, and suppresses free speech.' Existing law allows a district attorney or city attorney to file a court order to have a book deemed 'obscene.' A Legislative Counsel digest includes guidance that obscenity related to books involves '[lack of] serious literary artistic, political or scientific value' and the depiction of 'certain sexual acts, excretory functions, sadism or masochism or lewdly exhibits the genitals.' The proposal would make it a Category E felony to 'threaten or attempt to use any force, intimidation, coercion, violence, restraint or undue influence' to 'prevent a pupil from using or accessing library materials; or induce or compel the board of trustees of a school district, the governing body of a charter school or a school employee to violate' the non-banning provisions. The law would also make it a Category E felony to 'dox' a school board trustee or employee. The Clark County School District, Nevada's largest, updated its instruction material policy last December, including a process for challenging books involving a committee. A hearing was scheduled for April 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
