The Texas State Library and Archives Commission must adopt school library standards, and school districts must consider or follow them depending on the type of standards. School districts may also add local policies if they do not conflict.
Sec. 33.021. LIBRARY STANDARDS. (a) In this section, "sexually explicit material" means any communication, language, or material, including a written description, illustration, photographic image, video image, or audio file, other than library material directly related to the curriculum required under Section 28.002(a), that describes, depicts, or portrays sexual conduct, as defined by Section 43.25, Penal Code, in a way that is patently offensive, as defined by Section 43.21, Penal Code. (b) The Texas State Library and Archives Commission, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall adopt voluntary standards for school library services, other than collection development, that a school district shall consider in developing, implementing, or expanding library services. (c) The Texas State Library and Archives Commission, with approval by majority vote of the State Board of Education, shall adopt standards for school library collection development that a school district shall adhere to in developing or implementing the district's library collection development policies. (d) The standards adopted under Subsection (c) must: (1) be reviewed and updated at least once every five years; and (2) include a collection development policy that: (A) prohibits the possession, acquisition, and purchase of: (i) harmful material; (ii) library material rated sexually explicit material by the selling library material vendor; (iii) library material that is pervasively vulgar or educationally unsuitable as referenced in Board of Education v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853 (1982); (iv) library material containing indecent content or profane content; or (v) library material that refers a person to an Internet website containing content prohibited under this subsection, including by use of a link or QR code, as defined by Section 443.001, Health and Safety Code; (B) recognizes that obscene content is not protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; (C) is required for all library materials available for use or display, including material contained in school libraries, classroom libraries, online catalogs, library mobile applications, and any other library catalog a student may access; (D) recognizes that parents are the primary decision makers regarding a student's access to library material; (E) encourages schools to provide library catalog transparency; (F) recommends schools communicate effectively with parents regarding collection development; (G) prohibits the removal of material based solely on the: (i) ideas contained in the material; or (ii) personal background of: (a) the author of the material; or (b) characters in the material; and (H) demonstrates a commitment to compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act (Pub. L. No. 106-554), including through the use of technology protection measures, as defined by that Act. (e) A school district may adopt local policies and procedures in addition to the standards adopted under Subsection (c) that do not conflict with the standards adopted under that subsection or other requirements of this code. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 808 (H.B. 900), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 204 (H.B. 1620), Sec. 6.004, eff. September 1, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1126 (S.B. 13), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2025.