The Senate Education Committee held a hearing Wednesday to examine implementation of Senate Bill 13, a 2025 law restricting library materials and expanding parental oversight. Witnesses testified that some school districts are not fully complying with the law by retaining explicit materials.
Where
Statewide
When
Oct. 8, 2026
Sources
Reported by 3 outlets
Taxes and money
None stated in sources.
Who's involved
Brent HagenbuchState Senator, R-Denton
Donna CampbellSenate Education Committee chair
Shannon TrejoDeputy commissioner, Texas Education Agency Office of School Programs
Stephen LaraLeader, Lubbock Turning Point USA chapter
The facts
Senate Bill 13 (2025) gives school boards, not librarians, final say on library materials and allows creation of School Library Advisory Councils.12Stated by 2 sources
SB 13 requires school board approval for acquisitions, restricts library materials defined as pervasively vulgar, educationally unsuitable, indecent or profane.3
Bonnie Wallace told Lt. Gov. Patrick that 20% of school districts removed books, but 80% have done nothing.12Stated by 2 sources
Shannon Trejo said many school districts lack online catalogues of books in libraries and view compliance as a heavy workload.12Stated by 2 sources
Von Byer, TEA general counsel, stated schools must comply with SB 13 for both new and existing books.3
Stephen Lara said Lubbock ISD libraries contain over 1,000 books with harmful material accessible to minors.3
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Brent Hagenbuch The law isn't having the intended effect; it doesn't address books already on shelves.12
Bonnie Wallace Books deemed indecent, profane or educationally unsuitable remain in 80% of school districts.12
Laney Hawes Books like 'Hatchet' have been unnecessarily removed from libraries.12
Susan Perez Schools are waiting for books to be challenged before reviewing them.3
Shannon Ayers Parents continue finding profane and indecent content in school libraries.3
Where the sources disagree
Percentage of school districts removing books under SB 13 20% per Bonnie Wallace [1,2]; specific percentages not stated by other witnesses [3]
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Texas senators discuss tightening school library book law
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
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