The Growing Threat of National Book Ban Legislation
Following aggressive campaigns to defund the Department of Education as well as the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the attack on access to information and freedom of speech continues with newly introduced legislation designed to facilitate book bans nationwide. We've put together a short guide to the bills currently under consideration in Congress as well as links to easy actions you can take and graphics you can share letting your Senators, Representative, and neighbors know that free, open, and fully-funded public libraries are fundamental to a robust democracy.
Quick Links:
Current Anti-Library Bills
(And What You Can Do to Fight Them)
H.R. 7661, the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act"
H.R. 7661, co-sponsored by Louisiana's own Julia Letlow, would prohibit the use of funds through the U.S. Department of Education for any program, literature, or activity that includes "sexually oriented material," a tactic we've seen used in Louisiana to hide LGBTQ+ discrimination under the guise of "protecting children."
Since its introduction, the bill has been amended to specifically target "gender dysphoria or transgenderism." It passed the House Committee on Education and Workforce on March 17, 2026, but is not currently scheduled for a vote in the full House.
Guides to H.R. 7661:
The American Library Association
What You Can Do:
Choose one or all of these current actions you can take against H.R. 7661.
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Start by adding your name to our very own letter campaign aimed specifically our Louisiana congressional delegation. Share the campaign with your family, friends, and on your social media channels.
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Take part in the action sponsored by the American Bookseller's Association.
H.R. 2616, the "Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act"
H.R. 2616, the "Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act," (or, as it's also known, the "Don't Say Trans" bill) prohibits any schools receiving federal funds from teaching "gender ideology," as well as changing a student's gender marker or accommodating students' locker room or bathroom choices without parental approval. Requiring this approval will out children to parents even in situations where those kids may come to harm. Under the guise of prohibiting so-called "gender ideology," the bill would allow the wholesale erasure of LGBTQ+ students from library and curriculum materials.
Unfortunately, H.R. 2616 has already passed the House of Representatives with votes from eight Democrats, including Rep. Cleo Fields of Louisiana. Though Fields' district is likely to be eliminated under the new redistricting plan, it's extremely disappointing to see Fields vote to support a bill that would discriminate against students and facilitate censorship across the country. H.R. 2616 has now passed the full House and is on its way to the Senate.
Guides to H.R. 2616:
Opposition by the National Education Association
What You Can Do:
Choose one or all of these current actions you can take against H.R. 2616
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Start by adding your name to our very own letter campaign aimed specifically our Louisiana Senators. Share the campaign with your family, friends, and on your social media channels.
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Take part in the action sponsored by the American Bookseller's Association.
H.R. 8705, the "CHARLIE Act"
H.R. 8705, the "CHARLIE" Act, restricts how federally funded programs and schools can use grant money when addressing topics related to gender identity.
As we've seen time and time again, the bill’s language is broad and vague, giving institutions strong incentives to avoid any material that could be interpreted as addressing “gender ideology” in order to protect funding. That kind of ambiguity is what often drives censorship: schools and libraries tend to respond defensively by removing or avoiding content rather than risk compliance violations. Here in Louisiana, we've seen this in action after SB7 was passed by the Louisiana Legislature in 2023 and became R.S. 25:225.
In practice, H.R. 8705 would bar or heavily discourage educators, researchers, and education organizations from acknowledging or discussing transgender and nonbinary people in certain instructional or programmatic contexts. While the bill does not explicitly ban books, it could contribute to book bans and content suppression indirectly. When educators are pressured to avoid LGBTQ+ topics, books featuring transgender and nonbinary characters or themes are frequently among the first materials challenged, sidelined, or removed from curricula and library collections.
There is also the broader cultural impact to consider: policies like this narrow what students are allowed to learn about contemporary society and identity, while signaling that transgender and nonbinary people should not be acknowledged in educational spaces. Over time, that chilling effect can reshape school libraries and classroom materials nationwide, not through direct prohibition, but through widespread self-censorship and administrative caution.
Guides to H.R. 8705:
Statement of Opposition by Authors Against Book Bans
What You Can Do:
Choose one or all of these current actions you can take against H.R. 2616
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Start by adding your name to our very own letter campaign aimed specifically our Louisiana Representatives. Share the campaign with your family, friends, and on your social media channels.
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Take part in the action sponsored by the American Bookseller's Association.