S.B. No. 13 is a legislative bill designed to enhance parental rights concerning access to school library materials in Texas. It amends Section 26.004(b) of the Education Code to grant parents the right to access records of library materials their children check out. The bill introduces definitions for terms such as "harmful material," "indecent content," and "library material," while clarifying that instructional materials are not included in this definition. Additionally, it requires school districts to implement procedures that allow parents to access library catalogs and submit lists of materials their children should not check out.

The bill also mandates the establishment of local school library advisory councils within school districts to ensure that library materials align with community values. These councils will be involved in the acquisition and removal of library materials, with their recommendations needing to comply with approved library standards. Furthermore, the bill outlines a process for parents and community members to challenge library materials, requiring the school district to present these challenges to the advisory council, which has 90 days to make a recommendation. The board of trustees must address these challenges in an open meeting following the council's recommendation. The act is set to take effect in the 2025-2026 school year, with the Texas Education Agency responsible for creating a model policy for library material acquisition.

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