Texas Library Laws: Supporting Schools and Staff with Bookmarked

Texas Library Laws:

Supporting Schools and Staff with Bookmarked

What’s New This Year? 2025 Update: Texas School Library Material Review and Policy Implementation

Texas is receiving ongoing national attention for book bans in public schools. As reported by PEN America in October 2025, approximately 1,738 bans occurred in Texas districts during the 2024–2025 school year, the second highest count among all states. Texas news outlets, including the Dallas Observer, have extensively covered these developments, emphasizing that legislative changes—SB 13 and SB 412—have increased the scrutiny and oversight facing all school districts. These changes highlight the need for every district to be prepared and compliant with evolving state standards.

New Library Laws: SB 13 and SB 412

• SB 13: Implements uniform standards statewide for selecting, approving, and displaying library materials. Districts must publicly post new acquisitions, enable parental access to catalogs and checkout records, and can form advisory councils at parent request. A documented board approval process is required for new materials.​
• SB 412: Updates the Texas Penal Code regarding materials considered “harmful to minors.” Teachers and librarians no longer have legal exceptions for educational use, increasing the importance of documentation and compliance.

How Bookmarked Supports School Districts

• Book Intelligence Shield: Scans collections for policy risks and provides district leaders with actionable compliance data.
• Digitized Review Workflow: Manages every step, from advisory council input to final board decisions, creating an auditable record.
• Classroom Library Module: Enables seamless cataloging and review of classroom books prior to student use.
• Risk Identification Tools: Flags materials for further consideration and ensures alignment with district policies.
• Audit Trail: Tracks every review and decision for accountability.

Benefits to Districts:

• Facilitates policy compliance and reduces manual workload.
• Supports thorough and objective review processes for all titles.
• Builds transparent records to help districts demonstrate accountability to boards, parents, and communities.

Bookmarked currently works with over 100 Texas school districts and 9 regional service centers, assisting with the implementation of new legal requirements and helping schools navigate evolving standards.