Oklahoma public school libraries would be prohibited from providing students with books that contain sexually explicit material under legislation advanced by a state House committee.

House Bill 2978, by state Rep. Chris Banning, prohibits school libraries from offering books to students that include depictions or descriptions of sexually explicit conduct, with that phrase defined to include sexual intercourse, sodomy, masturbation, bestiality, and sadomasochism.

“This isn’t about moving books out about a passionate kiss,” said Banning, R-Bixby. “This is moving books out that completely disgrace women that we can’t read out loud.”

Banning said most Oklahoma schools appear to be limiting library content to material that is appropriate for children and youth, but he said issues have arisen at two of the eight schools located in his legislative district. He said the material found in one school library in his district was “mind-boggling.” Banning said one book found in the Bixby school library, of which an excerpt was provided to lawmakers, could not be aired on broadcast news if read aloud during the meeting.

“If media runs this today and you read that out loud, they would have to bleep out everything,” Banning said.

State Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, an Oklahoma City Democrat who previously worked as a political organizing specialist for the Oklahoma Education Association, noted state law currently requires school library books to comply with community standards and indicated no further safeguards are needed.

“This feels kind of unnecessary,” Pogemiller said. “I’m kind of confused why we need this.”

State Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, also objected to the legislation.

“This is turning back into kind of a book-banning bill,” Rosecrants said.

But one supporter noted the bill does not prevent students, or parents acting on behalf of their child, from independently obtaining any book.

“When we hear a phrase like ‘a book ban,’ you’re not actually banning anyone from accessing the book if they want to at an online retailer or a bookstore,” said state Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid. “You’re simply saying that they’re not going to get it from our taxpayer-funded, public-school library.”

HB 2978 passed the House Common Education Committee on a bipartisan 10-1 vote. Rosecrants joined Republicans in support of the bill. The legislation now proceeds to the House Education Oversight Committee.

[State Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, speaks during a legislative interim study at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Photo credit: Oklahoma House of Representatives)]