Protect Texans Right to Read!

I am writing today as your constituent in Texas to urge you to strongly oppose Texas HB 3225. HB 3225 was voted out of the House despite strong opposition from Texans. This bill is problematic because it attacks access to books in public libraries. HB 3225 forbids municipal public libraries from allowing anyone under 18 to access “sexually explicit” materials without clearly defining "sexually explicit."  In order to comply with this vague legislation, libraries would have to restrict anyone under 18 to children’s/teen/YA sections—they could not be allowed into the library’s sections for the general (adult) public, where they might encounter “sexually explicit” books.  Second, it would restrict the books that can be made available in those children’s/teen/YA sections. No sex-ed books, no descriptions of “sexual contact” in YA novels meant for older teens. Art books would be at risk, as would innocent books like Eric Carle’s Draw Me a Star and Maurice Sendak’s In the Night Kitchen. Additionally, small and rural libraries that do not have separate areas for children, teens, and adult library materials would not be able to properly serve the needs of all community members under this bill. I strongly urge you to vote against HB 3225 and to protect my First Amendment freedom to access information.