North Carolina House Passes Bill Allowing Book Restrictions in Schools

The North Carolina House has advanced a bill that would give parents greater authority over which books are permitted in public and charter school libraries, requiring the creation of community library advisory committees consisting of parents and school staff. The bill also mandates a statewide database of banned materials and allows parents, guardians, and residents to sue if schools do not comply. Republican supporters argue the legislation is necessary to protect children from explicit or sexual content, while Democrats contend it amounts to book banning, could suppress free speech, and would place an unmanageable burden on school employees. The bill defines as inappropriate any media containing descriptions or depictions of sexual activity, subjecting such materials to removal. Critics highlight that these bans often disproportionately target books addressing LGBTQ+ and racial themes, raising concerns about ideological motives. The measure now proceeds to the North Carolina Senate amid ongoing national debates about the role of parents in school library content.