S.B. No. 13 is a legislative bill designed to enhance parental rights regarding school library materials and establish local school library advisory councils. It amends Section 26.004(b) of the Education Code to grant parents the right to access records related to library materials their children check out. The bill introduces new definitions for terms such as "harmful material," "indecent content," and "library material," and outlines the responsibilities of school districts in acquiring library materials and ensuring parental access to library catalogs. School districts are required to adopt procedures that allow parents to access library catalogs and submit lists of materials their children should not check out.

Additionally, the bill mandates the formation of local school library advisory councils to reflect community values in library catalogs and to recommend policies for library material acquisition. It establishes a formal process for parents, district employees, and residents to challenge library materials, requiring school districts to forward written challenges to the advisory council, which must make a recommendation within 90 days. The board of trustees is then obligated to address these challenges at their next open meeting. The bill also includes provisions for the removal of challenged materials and outlines teachers' responsibilities regarding such removals, with implementation set to begin in the 2025-2026 school year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 26.004, Education Code 33.021 (Education Code 33, Education Code 26)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 26.004, Education Code 33.021 (Education Code 33, Education Code 26)
Engrossed: Education Code 26.004, Education Code 33.021 (Education Code 33, Education Code 26)