S.B. No. 13 is a legislative bill designed to enhance parental rights concerning access to school library materials and the establishment of local school library advisory councils in Texas. The bill 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. It introduces definitions for terms such as "harmful material," "indecent content," and "library material," while clarifying that instructional materials are excluded from this definition. Additionally, the bill requires school districts to adopt procedures that allow parents to access library catalogs and submit lists of materials their children should not check out.

The bill also mandates the creation of local school library advisory councils to ensure that library catalogs align with community values. These councils will be involved in the acquisition and removal of library materials, with their recommendations needing to adhere to approved library standards. Furthermore, the bill establishes a process for challenges to library materials, allowing parents and residents to submit written challenges that the local advisory council must review within 90 days. The school district is required to take action on these challenges at the next open meeting after receiving the council's recommendation, and students must be prohibited from accessing challenged materials until a decision is made. The Texas Education Agency is tasked with adopting a model policy for library material acquisition, which school districts must implement by the 2025-2026 school year.

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)