Relating to the standards for public school library materials.
HB 5021 requires Texas public school libraries to adopt collection development policies that prohibit materials deemed harmful under Texas Penal Code §43.24, sexually explicit by vendors, vulgar/unsuitable per *Pico v. Board of Education*, or listed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as restricted. It mandates that all library materials - including classroom, school, and online catalogs - must comply with these standards, while requiring schools to communicate with parents about collections and prohibiting removal of materials based solely on ideas or author/character backgrounds. The policy must also recognize that obscene content lacks First Amendment protection and affirm parents' primary role in student access decisions. This law applies to all public school libraries starting the 2025-2026 school year.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Apr 3, 2025
Last action Apr 3, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Public Education
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
1 primary · 10 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Andy Hopper
RRepublican
Co
Alan Schoolcraft
RRepublican
Co
Ben Bumgarner
RRepublican
Co
Ellen Troxclair
RRepublican
Co
Helen Kerwin
RRepublican
Co
Hillary Hickland
RRepublican
Co
Joanne Shofner
RRepublican
Co
Mike Olcott
RRepublican
Co
Nate Schatzline
RRepublican
Co
Richard Hayes
RRepublican
Co
Valoree Swanson
RRepublican
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about HB 5021
Scope: TX
Hi! I can help you understand HB 5021. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline