A committee of the State Board of Education (SBOE) offered preliminary feedback Thursday morning on standards for the development of school library collections required by House Bill (HB) 900, which the Texas Legislature passed earlier this year. 

The Committee on Instruction considered draft standards provided by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) for school library collections. The commission is required by HB 900 to develop standards and submit them to the SBOE for approval. 

Members suggested a handful of changes to the TSLAC standards. Member Pam Little (R–Fairview) recommended the commission add language allowing the general public to access lists of reading materials and requiring district staff to read each book in the collection. Member Aicha Davis (D–Dallas) suggested the commission consider ways to mitigate the financial impact on school districts, especially in rural areas. 

Board Chairman Keven Ellis (R–Lufkin) updated the committee on the state’s effort to seek an injunction against a lawsuit filed against state officials attempting to halt the implementation of HB 900. The lawsuit was filed by two Texas booksellers and three national bookseller associations. 

Following this week’s SBOE meeting, TSLAC aims to present the board with another draft for approval at the November SBOE meeting. TSLAC would adopt final rules in December and aim for final approval by January of 2024 as required by HB 900.