1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to vote NO on Senate Bill 74. This legislation threatens to bring unnecessary and expensive legal action against librarians and educators while allowing the state to determine what books children can read. This approach to education policy is both harmful and counterproductive. Librarians are trained professionals who carefully curate collections to serve diverse communities. Senate Bill 74 undermines their expertise and exposes them to legal liability for doing their jobs. The financial burden of defending against these lawsuits will drain resources that should be invested in literacy programs and educational materials. Georgia students deserve better than legislation that attacks the very professionals working to foster a love of reading. The bill appears to specifically target LGBTQ+ representation in children's books. Research consistently shows that representation in literature is not harmful to children. In fact, books that reflect diverse experiences help all students develop empathy and understanding while providing crucial validation for LGBTQ+ youth. Censoring these materials sends a damaging message to vulnerable young people and limits the educational experience for all students. If we are serious about improving education in Georgia, we should focus on proven strategies like increasing literacy instruction, supporting teachers and librarians with adequate resources, and ensuring every child has access to books. Senate Bill 74 does none of these things. Instead, it creates an environment of fear and restriction that will make it harder for educators to do their jobs effectively. Parents already have the ability to guide their own children's reading choices. This bill goes far beyond parental rights by imposing statewide censorship that affects all families. I ask you to stand with librarians, teachers, and students by voting NO on Senate Bill 74.