Texas Senators Consider Measure Protecting Children From Sexual Content in Public Libraries

Texas Senators Consider Measure Protecting Children From Sexual Content in Public Libraries

By | Texas Scorecard | May 16, 2025

Texas senators are considering a measure that would help protect children from obtaining sexually explicit content from public libraries.

On Thursday, House Bill 3225 was brought before the Senate Committee on State Affairs by State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R–Mineola), the committee’s chairman.

“They just think we’re being prudes until they read the materials we’re talking about,” said Hughes. “They’re very graphic, and so this bill requires these books be moved to the general or adult section—not removed from the library—but moved to the general or adult section so minors can browse safely.”

Under HB 3225, municipal public libraries would also be required to verify that only adults can obtain the materials, unless a child has obtained parental consent.

The measure defines “sexually explicit material” as “any communication, language, or material, including a written description, illustration, photographic image, video image, or audio file, that describes, depicts, or portrays sexual conduct in an explicit manner.”

Denise Siebert testified in favor of the measure, stating, “I have seen some of these books. I can hardly look at them, because I was so disgusted with what was going on and giving these to our children to confuse them and imprint [the images on] their memories.”

“It’s not about banning literature for children,” added Siebert. “It’s about banning porn from our children’s section.”

Librarians would be required to annually review all new materials added to children’s sections to parse out potentially sexually explicit material. In addition, librarians would be required to review specific materials upon request.

Religious material is exempted under HB 3225, and the process by which public libraries adopt age verification measures is not spelled out.

Several LGBT activists testified against the measure.

Miriam Laeky, government affairs director for Equality Texas, testified in opposition to the measure “because of its potential to censure stories that reflect the diverse experiences of students and families in our state, particularly those who are queer.”

Others argued it would ban books.

Protect Texas Children President Vanessa Sivadge said in her testimony to “spare me the outrage, because I’m not buying this act.”

Sivadge referenced the attempts to ban books such as Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” by those on the left in recent years.

She argued, “Our public libraries are pillars of learning, discovery, and imagination, but they must also be safe spaces, especially for our youngest Texans.”

Some will argue that this is censorship, but let’s be honest, if we don’t draw a line somewhere, then we are choosing permissiveness over protection. We are surrendering the innocence of our children to the lowest common denominator. That is not freedom, that is negligence.

If a public library is found to be in violation of the measure, it could become ineligible for state library grants and face a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation.

House lawmakers previously passed the measure, filed by State Rep. Daniel Alders (R–Tyler), in a 93-37-3 vote last weekend.

HB 2235 was left pending in the Senate State Affairs Committee.

Luca H. Cacciatore is a journalist for Texas Scorecard. He is an American Moment inaugural fellow and former welder.