SB 13 Implementation

DISCLAIMER: The information provided is intended to convey general information only and not to provide legal advice or opinions. The information shared on  this page and in any documents linked on this page, or links in shared documents, should not be construed as or be relied upon as legal advice in any particular circumstance or factual situation. The information may not reflect the most current legal developments. An attorney should be contacted for advice on specific legal questions, issues, and/or interpretation of the law.

SB 13 FAQs

SB 13 by Sen. Angela Paxton, was passed by the 89th Texas Legislature and signed into law by Governor Abbott. It’s effective date is September 1, 2025. There is a great deal of confusion and uncertainty about how this new law will be implemented. This page will be updated as TLA receives additional clarification and information. Highlights of the new law:

Timeline

• SB 13 is effective September 1, 2025.
• School boards are required to adopt a policy for acquisition of library materials before the first day of the 2025-2026 school year.
• The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is required to update and adopt the school library collection development standards by April 1, 2026.
• The Texas Education Agency is directed to adopt a model acquisition policy which school districts may choose to use as soon as practicable. The agency is also directed to adopt a form to be used for making written challenges which districts are required to use. According to TEA’s timeline for implementing legislation from the 89th session, SB 13 library policies will be issued in August.
• TASB released updated EFB Local policies in July. District administrators are directed to contact their TASB policy consultant to obtain the policies.

Collection Development

• Prohibits library materials with “profane content” or “indecent content” from school library collections. The definitions of profane and indecent content come from FCC broadcast guidelines.
• Prohibits library material that refers a person to a website containing content prohibited by the law by a link or QR code.
• Broadly defines “library material” as any book, record, file, or other instrument or document in a school district’s library catalog. Instructional materials and materials in TexShare are not considered library material for the purposes of this law.
• Applies the collection development standards mandated by the law (TSLAC standards) to all library materials available for use or display, including material in school libraries, classroom libraries, online catalogs, library mobile applications, and any other library catalog a student may access.

Parental Access

• Requires districts to provide parental access to school library catalogs and those districts with an LMS or online learning portal must provide parents a record of each time their child checks out a library material.
• Districts must develop a process by which parents can submit a list of library materials that their child may not be allowed to check out or access for use outside of the school library and the student is then not allowed to check out material on that list.

Local School Advisory Councils

• Districts have the option to establish a Local School Advisory Council. If they choose not to do so, a petition signed by the lesser of 10% or 50 of parents of students in the district will require the district to establish a council.
• School board appoints council members, a minimum of five (5), the majority of council members must be parents of students enrolled in the district.
• The school board must consider the council’s recommendations before adding or removing material from the school library catalog, and before making changes to policies or guidelines related to school  library catalogs. Council meetings are open to the public and must be recorded and shared on the district’s website.
• Council duties include recommending to the school board:
  • policies and procedures for purchasing library materials consistent with local community values
  • whether materials are grade level appropriate
  • agreements or strategies for collaboration between the school district and local public libraries and communities organizations (iffeasible0
  • the removal of library material the council determines to be harmful, or containing indecent or profane content that is inconsistent with local community values or ages appropriateness
  • policies and procedures for processing challenges and action to be taken by the district in response to challenges received

Acquiring Library Materials

The school board must adopt a policy for acquiring library materials, including purchasing and the receipt of donated materials. The board must:

• Make the list of materials proposed to be purchased or donated to the school library available for public review for 30 days before final approval
• Approve all library materials propose to be purchased or donated to the school library in an open meeting, considering the advice and recommendation of the local school library advisory council if one was established

Challenges to Library Materials

• All challenges to district library materials must be made using a form created by the Texas Education Agency
• Parents and those with a parental relation to a student in the district; district employees,  and individuals residing in the district may file a written challenge
• The school board (with the advice and recommendation of the local school library advisory council if one was established) must make a determination on whether to retain or remove the challenged material with in 90 days after receiving a copy of the challenge from the district.
• Students are not allowed to access any material that is undergoing a challenge.
• If the board retains the material, it cannot be challenged again for two (2) years.
• If the board removes the material, it is removed from the district catalog and from any classroom library.

Resources

SB 13 FAQs (July 15, 2025)

This FAQ document outlines our understanding of the broad requirements of the new law and its general implications for school libraries across Texas. Because each of the more than 1200 school districts in Texas operates under its own unique policies, procedures, and legal interpretations, we are unable to address district-specific scenarios. Librarians should work closely with their campus and district administrators, as well as district legal counsel, to determine how the law will be implemented locally.

TSLAC Proposed Amendments to Collection Development Standards (August 1, 2025)

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) has started the process of updating the mandatory collection development standards with the changes required by SB 13.

TSLAC’s approach is to update the standards strictly in accordance with the requirements of SB 13. Therefore, the changes only address new requirements for the collection development standards which are part of the Texas Administrative Code, School Library Programs rules. TSLAC Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the draft amendments at their Friday, August 1 meeting. If approved, the draft amendments will be submitted to the State Board of Education (SBOE) for consideration.

This is the first step in the lengthy rule making process. There will be additional opportunities to provide feedback and public comment on the standards over the next few months.

Texas Education Agency  (TEA) SB 13 Required Library Materials Challenge Form 

TEA has adopted the Library Materials challenge form required by SB 13 which all districts are required to post on their websites for submission of a written challenge to library materials. TEA provided the form in an editable format so it can be modified to include district-specific information and instructions for submitting the form. Districts are encouraged to make the form as easy as possible to access, including allowing individuals to complete the form online. An alternative option for individuals who may not have access to a computer or internet should also be available.

The following district specific information must be incorporated into the Library Materials Challenge Form:

• Detailed instructions for submitting the form
• District contact information
• Hyperlink to the district’s local policy for the acquisition of library materials
• Hyperlink to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) Collection Development Standards

School districts may include additional fields and information in the TEA-adopted form but may not omit the fields or information provided.

Required Library Materials Challenge Form

Library Materials Challenge Form Instructions for Districts

SB 13 Acquisition Policies & Implications for Purchasing | July 31 webinar

Presentation slides

Q&A document

Sample Form for campus librarians to submit order lists to district library services

Sample –Instructions for Checking Book Lists for Books Currently in Collection

Sample – Spreadsheet Comparing Books In Collection to Order List

Sample Documents Provided by Various Districts

These documents are examples of procedures some districts have developed. They are shared to provide ideas for other districts that are in the process of developing their procedures. Librarians should work with district administration and consult district legal counsel to ensure compliance. NOTE: These resources are in the TLA Engage All Member Community library; you must log in to Engage to access the documents.

Sample Procurement Process – No SLAC

Sample Purchasing Timeline

Sample Public Comment Feedback Form