SALEM, Ore. (KGW/KTVZ) — A bill that aims to push back against a rise in book bans in Oregon school districts has passed the Senate, KGW reported. 

Senate Bill 1583 says that “that a school official cannot prohibit materials because the materials concern a class of people identified in our education anti-discrimination laws. In other words, you cannot ban a book because the book involves folks from marginalized communities,” according to bill sponsor Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland. 

“If you are not allowing kids to have books, and you are telling them what books they have to read or what books they can’t read, you are basically setting them up for not understanding the world we have around us,” Frederick said.

Earlier this month, several librarians, teachers and parents expressed support for the bill, with one teacher saying, “Students don’t need to be protected from the truth. Rather, they need to learn the truth in order for them to navigate a complex world, and if they understand historical injustices, they’re better prepared to recognize, address and repair injustice they encounter today.”

Meanwhile, opponents claimed that bill would take away power from school boards and parents to determine what’s appropriate for kids. 

On Tuesday, Senate Republicans voted as a bloc against the ban, with Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, proposing a minority report that would have given more time to discuss the issue in future sessions, according to a press release. That was voted down by Democrats. 

“Democrats framed this bill as an issue of discrimination, but the bigger picture is ensuring Oregon schools provide appropriate reading material to their students to enhance their educational experiences. Our minority report recognized that discrimination is wrong, and so is providing children explicit content harmful to their development,” said Knopp in a statement. 

On the Senate floor Tuesday, Republican lawmakers said the state should not try to control the decisions of local school districts, claiming that this may allow inappropriate content to slip through the cracks.

“I don’t think that it is this body’s responsibility to tell a school district what they can and cannot make available,” said Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles. “I want to be clear that books still exist, whether they are not in the schools’ libraries. We are not burning books. We are not banning books. We are just saying this is probably not something that a child should be encouraged to read.”

“Book banning is a widespread tool used to oppress free speech and thought in Oregon and nationwide,” said Frederick in a statement. “All kids deserve the opportunity to see themselves, their families, and members of their community represented in the books they read. Oregonians should get to decide what they personally read, not political agendas.”

Meanwhile, Emily O’Neal, the chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee with the Oregon Library Association, also expressed support for the bill, citing a 2023 incident where the Canby School District removed all copies of “Lolita,” despite parental protests. 

Complaints from two community members had spurred the district’s decision to temporarily remove 35 books in total from school libraries a few months ago, pending review, which Canby students turned out to protest. Members of the Oregon Library Association said proper protocol wasn’t followed in removing “Lolita,” as well as restricting the other 34 books.

The bill moved to the House Rules Committee, where people who are either for, against or neutral had another opportunity to testify in front of lawmakers on Thursday.

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News release Tuesday from Senator Lew Frederick:

Protecting Free Speech, Thought in Oregon Schools 

Senate Bill 1583 will protect free speech by prohibiting book bans, keeping appropriate, educational material available for all Oregonians

SALEM, Ore. — Today, Senate Bill 1583 passed the Oregon Senate. This legislation will protect free speech by prohibiting politically-motivated book bans, keeping appropriate, educational material available for all Oregonians.

SB 1583 will prohibit book bans on the basis of race, gender identity, country of origin, sexual orientation, disability and immigrant status, protecting all Oregonians’ right to free speech, and keeping culture wars out of our public schools and libraries. This legislation protects parents’ right to decide what their children read, free from political interference.

“Book banning is a widespread tool used to oppress free speech and thought in Oregon and nationwide,” said Senator Lew Frederick (D- Portland), chief sponsor of this legislation. “All kids deserve the opportunity to see themselves, their families, and members of their community represented in the books they read. Oregonians should get to decide what they personally read, not political agendas.”

The bill now goes to the Oregon House of Representatives for consideration.

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News release Tuesday from Oregon Senate Republican Caucus:

Senate Republicans Defend Age-Appropriate Reading Material in Schools, Urge Democrats to Give This Polarizing Issue More Discussion in Future Sessions

SALEM, Ore. – Today, Senate Republicans voted to support age-appropriate reading materials for K-12 students in the Oregon public education system. Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) made a motion to adopt a minority report in place of SB 1583, which was voted down by all 17 Senate Democrats. It would have given more time to study and discuss this contentious issue in future sessions.

“The topic of what reading materials are available to students in public schools has been politicized across the country in recent years. One only need do a quick Google search to see what has occurred at school board meetings. We’ve seen angry parents, exasperated school board members and administrators, frustrated members of the public, and even the regular presence of law enforcement to stop entire meetings from becoming outright brawls,” said Senator Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook), a former educator. “I am disappointed in the Democrats’ decision to reject our minority report which gave more time and attention to this issue. Instead, they passed SB 1583 on party lines.”

“We have heard from hundreds and hundreds of Oregonians who are deeply concerned about SB 1583. Instead of rushing into passing a contentious bill during a short session meant to address emergencies, Republicans wanted to give the discussion more time and input from parents and the public in future sessions,” said Leader Knopp. “Democrats framed this bill as an issue of discrimination, but the bigger picture is ensuring Oregon schools provide appropriate reading material to their students to enhance their educational experiences. Our minority report recognized that discrimination is wrong, and so is providing children explicit content harmful to their development.”