Education (Libraries)

AB 445 proposes to shield school and public library staff from lawsuits or criminal charges when they act in good faith to provide access to library materials. It applies specifically to school library media specialists, librarians, and other staff handling library functions, covering all materials listed - including books, digital resources, and government documents. The bill would have amended Nevada law to create this immunity, protecting staff who assist patrons or students in accessing materials. However, the bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 2, 2025, and did not become law.

SB 248 requires every public school in Nevada to create and maintain an electronic, publicly accessible list of all print and digital materials in its library and used in classroom curricula. The list must include each item's title, author, unique book code (ISBN), and be searchable and downloadable on the school's website. It covers all books, digital resources, and instructional materials used in teaching, but excludes academic tests and audiovisual content. This bill directly affects all public schools by mandating greater transparency about educational resources available to students and families.

AB 416 prohibits school boards, charter school governing bodies, and school employees from restricting student access to library materials by removing, hiding, labeling, or defacing them. It allows materials to be removed only through a court order if deemed obscene under a standard similar to existing law. The bill also creates new felony charges for using force to block student access or leaking personal information of school staff or students as retaliation for accessing library materials, with specific conditions for the information-sharing provision. This directly affects school officials, students, and staff by protecting access to library resources and penalizing interference.