Senate Bill 1098 aims to prevent removal of books about protected classes in Oregon
By Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle
Oregon lawmakers are taking steps to protect access to library materials written by diverse authors or that include themes of race, gender or sexual orientation.
On Wednesday afternoon, the House Education Committee heard public comments on Senate Bill 1098, which would prohibit schools and library districts from removing books with stories about religion, disability, LGBTQ+ issues or other characteristics of a protected class in Oregon’s anti-discrimination law in public education.
As Republican lawmakers across the U.S. have passed laws to restrict access to certain books and limit discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion, Democratic Oregon lawmakers are taking steps to ensure that books by diverse authors remain accessible to readers.
The bill does not remove existing standards for determining if a book is appropriate, but it adds the additional requirement that a book cannot be excluded or removed because of the perspective it represents, said bill sponsor Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland.
“If folks only allege there’s inappropriate material when that material is by or about a protected class, then that’s when there’s a problem,” Frederick said.
Public libraries and schools saw more attempts to remove books between July 2023 and 2024 than in any year since the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse at the State Library began tracking challenges. Nearly 90% of those challenges were to books written by or about underrepresented groups, according to a letter State Librarian Wendy Cornelisen submitted to lawmakers.
This is the second time Frederick brings this bill to the statehouse. Frederick proposed a similar bill last year, which passed the Senate in a 17-12 vote, but the bill died as the five-week 2024 legislative session ended. This year’s attempt passed the Senate on nearly a party-line 18-10 vote, with Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, voting in support of the bill. It awaits action in the House.
Most testimony in support of bill, but Republican lawmakers call it ‘redundant’
Most of the fifteen people who signed up to speak to the committee supported the bill, including several parents, an author and representatives from LGBTQ+ and library advocacy groups such as ACLU of Oregon and the Oregon Library Association.
“This bill is a tool to save Oregon schools and parents’ time and energy,” said Bridget Tyler, a Corvallis parent. “It doesn’t take power away from parents. It sets limits that prevent people who don’t have children in our kids’ schools from interfering in our choices.”
Three Republican lawmakers spoke in opposition to the bill, including Sen. Noah Robinson, R-Cave Junction, who said he is concerned that public school libraries carry inappropriate materials that are “sexually explicit” and have “heavy profanity.”
Rep. Emily McIntire, R-Eagle Point, said the bill is redundant because schools already must follow non-discrimination policies.
Rep. Dwayne Yunker, R-Grants Pass, said the bill would silence parents and school boards who raise concerns about education materials presented in Oregon public schools.
The committee will decide whether to advance the bill during a work session at a later date. From there, it would need a vote by the full House and then head to Gov. Tina Kotek, who could choose to veto the bill, sign it into law, or allow it to become law without her signature. Upon becoming law, the bill would take effect immediately.
Mia Maldonado covers Oregon and state legislature with a focus on social services for Oregon Capital Chronicle. She started her career in journalism with Oregon Capital Chronicle’s sister outlet in Idaho, the Idaho Capital Sun.
