Federal book‑ban bill moves forward
A federal bill (HR 7661) addressing book removals has moved in the House as districts across the country continue mass removals—some local systems have banned hundreds of titles, raising national alarms about access. The legislative push and the wave of local bans are intensifying scrutiny over what students can read in schools. (bookriot.com) (easttexasradio.com)
H.R. 7661 is formally titled the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act,” was introduced in the House on February 24, 2026 by Rep. Mary E. Miller (R‑IL), and lists 18 sponsors/co‑sponsors in its filed text. (congress.gov)) The House Committee on Education & the Workforce held a full‑committee markup on March 17, 2026 and the committee reported passing a package of seven bills that included H.R. 7661. (edworkforce.house.gov)) The bill would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to bar use of federal ESEA funds for “programs, activities, literature, or other materials” described as “sexually oriented material,” with the bill text explicitly citing examples such as exposing children to nude adults or lewd dancing. (congress.gov)) Tracking services and analysts note the bill’s definitions expand beyond explicit conduct to reference material involving “gender dysphoria” or “transgenderism” in enforcement language, a framing flagged in online bill summaries. (billtrack50.com)) In Central Texas, New Braunfels Independent School District’s review has led to more than 600 high‑school titles removed or restricted, roughly 800 titles aged‑up at middle‑school level, and about 60 elementary titles affected since June 1, 2025, according to public‑records reporting. (pen.org)) Local watchdogs and the district itself say the New Braunfels review paused student access to secondary libraries while staff screened roughly 190,000 materials for compliance with Texas laws SB 12/SB 13. (ksat.com)) The Texas Freedom to Read Project and other local reports say New Braunfels used AI‑assisted searches and restrictive selection criteria in its review, producing a list that includes classic and contemporary authors among the hundreds flagged. (txftrp.org)) National library and education organizations warned the committee action and the bill’s vague language could force wide removals and open districts to litigation, with the American Library Association publicly condemning the March 17 committee passage as “dangerous.” (ala.org))
