Attendees hold books in support of Idaho libraries at the “Idaho Freedom to Read-in” event held at the Idaho Capitol Building on Jan. 13, 2024. The event was organized by the Idaho Library Association, alongside the Meridian Library Alliance, the North Central Idaho Alliance, the Community Library Network Alliance, and Rediscovered Books. (Mia Maldonado/Idaho Capital Sun)
After largely negative public testimony, Idaho legislators advanced a bill Monday that would require public and school libraries to create a review process and to restrict children’s access to harmful materials following complaints.
The Idaho Senate is set to consider Senate Bill 1289 , cosponsored by Sen. Geoff Schroeder, R-Mountain Home. The bill would allow people to sue Idaho libraries for allegedly exposing children to “harmful materials” after a new review reporting process that the legislation outlines.
The bill would rely on Idaho’s existing legal definition of harmful materials, which defines sexual conduct as including homosexuality.