Latest news with #SenateBill1098
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon legislature passes bill to combat ‘politicized' book bans
PORTLAND, Ore. () – The Oregon legislature passed a bill on Monday in an effort to combat 'politicized' book bans across the state, the Democratic House Majority Office announced. Senate Bill 1098, the Freedom to Read bill, prevents books from being banned based on protected topics such as race, sex and religion, or bans based on the author's identity. The bill also ensures that people who are directly connected to a school – including parents, guardians and school staff – can file complaints about textbooks or library materials rather than allowing complaints from politicians, campaigns or people outside of Oregon. Under the bill, local review committees will make the final call if the material is allowed. DON'T MISS: Oregon representative counters bill against book bans by reading explicit excerpt 'This legislation is a clear statement of our values as Oregonians and a society', said Representative Travis Nelson (D-N & NE Portland), a chief sponsor of the bill. 'It embodies our commitment to creating an educational environment where every student can learn, grow, and see themselves reflected in the stories and histories that shape our world.' The bill comes as 127 books were challenged in Oregon schools and libraries in 2024, marking the highest number since the State Library started tracking challenged titles, according to the House Majority Office. 'SB 1098 creates a process to make sure such decisions are made with community input, and to protect librarians from being targeted by activist groups. Under this bill, a book challenge must come from a parent, guardian or school employee, not from an outside person or organization,' said Rep. Zach Hudson (D -East Multnomah County). Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'As an elementary teacher, I observed daily the importance of students having access to a broad range of cultures, histories, and experiences,' added, Rep. Lisa Fragala (D – Eugene). 'All students deserve to see themselves, their families, and their communities represented in the books they read at school. Book bans erase the voice and experiences of too many children, and we need learning environments that affirm students' identities, so they feel empowered to learn.' In a press release issued Monday, however, Rep. Boomer Wright (R-Reedsport), a member of the House Education Committee, argued that the bill limits school districts' ability to choose age-appropriate books for school libraries. 'I voted against SB 1098 because there were no sideboards on age appropriateness. I do not support banning books. I support age appropriateness when choosing instructional materials,' Rep. Wright explained. Wright noted that Rep. Emily McIntire (R-Eagle Point) introduced an amendment, which would affirm a school's ability to consider age and grade-level appropriateness when reviewing books, Wright said, adding, 'The amendment supporting age appropriateness was not adopted. If it had, I could have voted in support of SB 1098.' Cars damaged near Portland school after teen suspect rammed cars outside, police say After passing the Oregon Senate and House of Representatives, the bill now heads to Governor Tina Kotek's desk. The bill comes after written testimony was submitted by State Librarian Wendy Cornelisen, noting the State Library is neutral in its support of the bill. According to Cornelisen, Oregon is seeing a 'clear pattern' in recent reports of book challenges. 'Incidents and challenged materials are disproportionately about, by, or center the stories of individuals who belong to an underrepresented protected class under ORS 659.850. In 2023-24, 87% of the items challenged told the stories of one or more underrepresented groups. Sixty-six percent of challenged materials focused on 2SLGBTQIA+ people, while 22% centered Black, Indigenous, or people of color,' Cornelisen said. 'The data shared here were gathered through reports of challenges at schools and libraries, media stories, and our staff's experience working on challenge incidents. However, we have reason to believe that incidents in Oregon are underreported. Many school and library staff are not aware of the option to report such incidents. Despite the anonymity of the reporting process, staff also may decline to report for fear of political blowback, job repercussions, or media attention on their organization,' Cornelisen continued. 'We anticipate the numbers we have shared here would be significantly higher if all intellectual freedom incidents in Oregon were reported.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon ‘freedom to read' library bill heads to governor's desk
Gender Queer, a graphic memoir by Maia Kobabe, was the most challenged book in America in 2022, according to the American Library Association. (New Jersey Monitor) A bill to protect access to school library books that discuss different religions, sexualities, disabilities and a number of other topics, and to ensure they are not banned on the basis of those themes, is headed to Gov. Tina Kotek's desk, where she's expected to sign it. Senate Bill 1098 passed the Oregon House of Representatives Monday on a 34-21 vote. It would prohibit school libraries from removing books on the basis of their being about, or by, a member of a protected class as defined in Oregon's anti-discrimination in education law. Those protected classes include: race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, age and disability. Under the bill, parents, guardians or school staff would still be able to file complaints about textbooks or library material. Oregon would join at least eight other states — including Colorado, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Vermont, Minnesota, Maryland and Washington — who have adopted similar legislation either protecting library workers from lawsuits or prohibiting libraries from restricting access to books with diverse viewpoints, according to the American Library Association. State Rep. Travis Nelson, a Portland Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill, said on the House floor it is about celebrating the freedom to read and standing against discrimination, censorship and the erasure of diverse voices. The bill already passed the Senate in March in a 18-10 vote. All House Democrats present Monday voted in favor of the bill. Only one Republican, state Rep. Cyrus Javadi, of Tillamook, voted in favor. Javadi on the House floor shared the story of his son, who grew up in rural Oregon and who read books to help him understand his identity as a young gay man. 'You can remove a book if the content is too graphic,' Javadi told lawmakers. 'You can remove it if it's not age appropriate, but you can't remove it just because the author is gay or Muslim or Black or because the story centers someone that makes you uncomfortable.' In 2024, 151 books were challenged in Oregon schools and libraries — the greatest number since 1987, when the Oregon State Library began tracking attempts to remove books. According to the American Library Association, the most challenged books in the country are books with LGBTQ+ characters or themes related to sexual assault. While lawmakers in Idaho, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas and others have adopted policies meant to prevent minors from accessing some of those books, Oregon's bill seeks to maintain the availability of them in public libraries. 'Let's not teach our kids that their stories are too controversial to belong on the shelf,' Javadi said. Multiple Republicans spoke in opposition to the bill, sharing concerns that it undermines family values, the public school system and existing non-discrimination policies. 'The entire bill is redundant, unnecessary, inflammatory, politically, sexually motivated and a threat to family values,' Rep. Boomer Wright, R-Reedsport, said. 'Preventing books that promote radical ideologies with regard to gender and sexuality from getting into the hands of minor children is an obligation, not an option. This bill is not in the best interest of children and families.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A ban on book bans: Oregon bill would protect access to library materials
As Republican lawmakers across the U.S. have implemented laws allowing individuals to request the removal of books they believe are harmful to minors — such as in neighboring Idaho as shown in the photo above — Democratic Oregon lawmakers are taking a different approach through Senate Bill 1098. (Mia Maldonado/Idaho Capital Sun) Oregon lawmakers are taking steps to protect access to library materials written by diverse authors or that include themes of race, gender or sexual orientation. On Wednesday afternoon, the House Education Committee heard public comments on Senate Bill 1098, which would prohibit schools and library districts from removing books with stories about religion, disability, LGBTQ+ issues or other characteristics of a protected class in Oregon's anti-discrimination law in public education. As Republican lawmakers across the U.S. have passed laws to restrict access to certain books and limit discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion, Democratic Oregon lawmakers are taking steps to ensure that books by diverse authors remain accessible to readers. The bill does not remove existing standards for determining if a book is appropriate, but it adds the additional requirement that a book cannot be excluded or removed because of the perspective it represents, said bill sponsor Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland. 'If folks only allege there's inappropriate material when that material is by or about a protected class, then that's when there's a problem,' Frederick said. Public libraries and schools saw more attempts to remove books between July 2023 and 2024 than in any year since the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse at the State Library began tracking challenges. Nearly 90% of those challenges were to books written by or about underrepresented groups, according to a letter State Librarian Wendy Cornelisen submitted to lawmakers. This is the second time Frederick brings this bill to the statehouse. Frederick proposed a similar bill last year, which passed the Senate in a 17-12 vote, but the bill died as the five-week 2024 legislative session ended. This year's attempt passed the Senate on a party-line 18-10 vote and awaits action in the House. Most of the fifteen people who signed up to speak to the committee supported the bill, including several parents, an author and representatives from LGBTQ+ and library advocacy groups such as ACLU of Oregon and the Oregon Library Association. 'This bill is a tool to save Oregon schools and parents' time and energy,' said Bridget Tyler, a Corvallis parent. 'It doesn't take power away from parents. It sets limits that prevent people who don't have children in our kids' schools from interfering in our choices.' Three Republican lawmakers spoke in opposition to the bill, including Sen. Noah Robinson, R-Cave Junction, who said he is concerned that public school libraries carry inappropriate materials that are 'sexually explicit' and have 'heavy profanity.' Rep. Emily McIntire, R-Eagle Point, said the bill is redundant because schools already must follow non-discrimination policies. Rep. Dwayne Yunker, R-Grants Pass, said the bill would silence parents and school boards who raise concerns about education materials presented in Oregon public schools. The committee will decide whether to advance the bill during a work session at a later date. From there, it would need a vote by the full House and then head to Gov. Tina Kotek, who could choose to veto the bill, sign it into law, or allow it to become law without her signature. Upon becoming law, the bill would take effect immediately. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
