North Dakota House Approves Bill Restricting Library Access to Explicit Materials

The North Dakota House passed Senate Bill 2307, which mandates that libraries restrict minors' access to materials deemed 'sexually explicit.' The bill, which passed narrowly with a 49-45 vote, allows a state’s attorney to deem library content obscene and requires librarians to relocate such materials within ten days or face potential prosecution. Critics argue the legislation, which follows previous restrictions on library content, could overwhelm small libraries with complaints and enforcement challenges. Advocates for the bill claim it protects taxpayer dollars from being used for inappropriate content. This legislative move aligns with similar initiatives in other Republican-led states and reflects a growing trend to regulate library materials. The bill now awaits the signature of Governor Kelly Armstrong to become law.