Astoria, Ore. — In a growing national debate over book bans and educational censorship, Oregon lawmakers are considering legislation that would protect access to books featuring diverse perspectives in schools and public libraries. Senate Bill 1098, heard Wednesday by the House Education Committee, would prohibit the removal of books based solely on their inclusion of themes related to protected classes such as race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Sponsored by Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, the bill is a response to a sharp increase in book challenges across the state. According to the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse, which tracks such incidents, Oregon saw more book removal attempts between July 2023 and 2024 than in any other year since the agency began monitoring. Nearly 90% of those attempts targeted books written by or about underrepresented groups, State Librarian Wendy Cornelisen told lawmakers in a letter.
“If folks only allege there’s inappropriate material when that material is by or about a protected class, then that’s when there’s a problem,” Frederick said during the hearing.
The proposed legislation maintains existing standards for determining whether material is age-appropriate but adds a critical new restriction: books cannot be excluded simply because of the viewpoint or perspective they offer, particularly if that perspective reflects the lived experiences of marginalized communities.
During Wednesday’s hearing, most public testimony supported the bill. Advocates included parents, authors, and representatives from organizations such as the ACLU of Oregon and the Oregon Library Association. Bridget Tyler, a parent from Corvallis, said the bill would help shield schools from politically motivated interference.
“This bill is a tool to save Oregon schools and parents’ time and energy,” Tyler said. “It doesn’t take power away from parents. It sets limits that prevent people who don’t have children in our kids’ schools from interfering in our choices.”
Opposition came primarily from Republican lawmakers, three of whom voiced concerns that the bill duplicates existing non-discrimination policies and could suppress legitimate concerns about inappropriate material in school libraries.
Sen. Noah Robinson, R-Cave Junction, argued that many books currently accessible to students contain “sexually explicit” content and “heavy profanity.” Rep. Emily McIntire, R-Eagle Point, labeled the bill “redundant,” while Rep. Dwayne Yunker, R-Grants Pass, warned it could “silence parents and school boards” who raise concerns about educational content.
This marks the second time Sen. Frederick has introduced such legislation. A similar bill passed the Senate in 2024 but failed to advance before the legislative session ended. This year, SB 1098 passed the Senate on an 18-10 party-line vote and now awaits further action in the House.
If approved by the House and signed by Governor Tina Kotek, the bill would take effect immediately. Kotek also has the option to veto the bill or allow it to become law without her signature.
The House Education Committee is expected to vote on whether to advance the bill during a work session at a later date. As states across the country grapple with book bans and curriculum disputes, Oregon’s SB 1098 signals a clear intent to protect diverse representation in educational materials.
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