INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana lawmakers pushed forward a Republican-backed bill on Tuesday that aims to restrict students from accessing “harmful materials” at libraries.
Republican Sen. Jim Tomes of Wadesville said his legislation would remove educational purposes as a reason that public schools and libraries could claim legal protection for sharing “harmful material” with minors.
Tomes maintained that the bill does not change current law, which already outlines “strict criteria” that has to be met for a book to be considered illegal.
Senate Democrats pushed back, arguing that the proposal would lead to a ban on books of educational value that are only deemed “harmful” or “offensive” by some.
