On February 27, the Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 1583, which has a straightforward yet vital objective: eliminating book bans in public schools and libraries.

The primary goal of this bill is to prohibit school boards and other educational authorities from removing or denying access to library books or textbooks based solely on the perspective of, or the authorship by, individuals from protected classes. These classes include race, gender identity, country of origin, sexual orientation, disability, and immigrant status.

A Republican accused Democratic colleagues during the heated discussion of being proponents of pedophilia. At the same time, another downplayed the significance of racism. After a heated hour-long debate, the Senate passed the legislation on a party-line vote of 17 to 12. 

Preserving Parental Authority and Representation

State Senator Lew Frederick, D-Portland, emphasized that this legislation safeguards parents' authority to determine their children's reading materials without political intervention. Frederick also asserted that every child should have the chance to encounter representations of themselves, their families, and their community in the books they read. According to him, Oregonians should be free to choose their reading preferences without external political influences.

Frederick introduced the bill this year as a response to parents nationwide's increasing challenges against school books. In Oregon, 93 titles faced removal attempts between July 2022 and June 2023, as the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse reported. Nationally, PEN America noted a significant increase in book bans, with nearly 3,400 instances during the 2022-23 school year, compared to 2,500 in the previous academic year.

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According to Frederick, the proposal is based on existing laws prohibiting school discrimination. Notably, the bill does not prevent school districts from removing books deemed inappropriate for students based on age.

Senator Kayse Jama, a Portland Democrat and refugee from the Somali civil war, emphasized that passing the bill sends a crucial message to individuals like him and his children, affirming their identity as Oregonians and recognizing the importance of their culture and history.

Republicans Express Concerns Over SB 1583

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp expressed the concerns of numerous Oregonians regarding SB 1583. Instead of hastily passing a contentious bill during a short session focused on emergencies, Republicans aimed to allow more discussion and input from parents and the public in future sessions.

Knopp highlighted that Democrats presented the bill as addressing discrimination. However, Republicans emphasized the broader objective of ensuring Oregon schools offer suitable reading material to enhance student's educational experiences. Their minority report acknowledged that discrimination is wrong and that providing children with explicit information stunts their growth. 

Senator Art Robinson, R-Cave Junction, dismissed the notion that books are excluded for discriminatory reasons, asserting that no Oregon community would remove books based on the author's race. Robinson challenged claims made for political reasons, stating that actual racism in America is insignificant.

Republican senators tried to replace the Democrats' version of SB 1583 with their proposal. Their alternative suggests establishing a task force to examine restricting access to books in schools and provide recommendations for future legislation.

The bill is now on its way to the House, and Frederick anticipates swift progress through the House Rules Committee and the full House. 

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