Democratic lawmakers are supporting a bill prohibiting schools and libraries from banning books and other content they consider inappropriate.
Assembly Bill 416 requires anyone wanting to remove content from public schools and libraries to first get a court order labeling it as obscene.
It also makes it a felony to prevent others from accessing library materials or otherwise harass and threaten library or school employees.
Debi Stears is a librarian from Washoe County, who spoke in favor of the bill.
“We need to preserve the rights of parents to determine for their own children, not for grand political theater by people who don't even have children in our schools or using our libraries.”
Last year, Washoe County Schools received more than a dozen complaints challenging the content found in school libraries. Washoe County Public Libraries received more than 25 complaints.
Opponents of the measure say it’s government overreach meant to keep parents from voicing concerns over what their kids read and learn.
