OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate advanced Senate Bill 1250 this week, a measure authored by Senator Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, to provide greater transparency for parents and ensure available school library materials do not contain or depict obscene material, sexually explicit content, nudity, or other material that is harmful to minors.
Senate Bill 1250 requires every public school district and charter school in Oklahoma to submit to the State Department of Education, by Oct. 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, a list of all books and materials available in school libraries.
“Our schools must provide a safe learning environment, and that includes their thorough review of materials available in school libraries,” Hamilton said. “This legislation helps ensure that content made available to students meets appropriate standards while giving parents a clear process to raise concerns if something explicit or obscene is to be found.”
Under SB 1250, which facilitates local control, a parent or legal guardian of a student may report a suspected violation to the local school district board of education or charter school governing body. The school must then conduct an investigation and provide a report of its findings. If a parent disagrees with the outcome, they may appeal the decision to the State Department of Education, which will review the complaint through a defined process and determine whether the school is in compliance with state law.
Hamilton also responded to claims made during the debate of the measure that suggested the Bible should be classified as explicit content in relation to this bill.
“Those who claim the Bible should fall into this category cannot fathom the content some children have actually been exposed to in books found on school library shelves. In fact, many of my colleagues and I have received hundreds of examples of egregious materials that parents have raised concerns about, and none of those concerns to date have involved scripture. This bill is not targeting any particular subject, faith-based works, or educational material, but it focuses solely on materials that can harm children and strip away their innocence,” Hamilton added.
The measure clarifies that students may read, own, possess, or discuss books obtained independently outside of school without the assistance or encouragement of school personnel or libraries. However, students would be prohibited from bringing materials containing obscene or sexually explicit content, nudity, or material harmful to minors onto school grounds.
SB 1250 passed the Senate by a vote of 39-8, and now moves to the House of Representatives, where Representative Chris Banning, R-Bixby, is carrying the measure.
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