Minnesota DFL lawmakers looking to prohibit book bans based on ideological grounds

(St. Paul, MN) -- Minnesota lawmakers aim to progress a bill that would prohibit ideological book bans in the state.

HF3782 would prohibit book bans in public and school libraries if the objection is based on ideological grounds. The bill is sponsored by Representative Laurie Pryor (DFL-Minnetonka) and supported by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and would aim to prohibit governing bodies from banning public libraries "from banning, removing, or restricting access to an otherwise age-appropriate book based upon its content or other subjective objections," according to a Department of Education representative.

“It would be the qualified librarians who have training and who are responsible and obligated to look at the community’s needs,” said Shana Morse, the Assistant Director of Public Affairs in the Department of Education. “That rests in the hands of the professionals who have been trained to do that evaluation.”

“You never sail out on a ship alone,” said Representative Ben Bakeberg (R-Jordan). “The way this is written … we’re putting them in the boat and we’re kicking them out all by themselves to make these decisions. This is more about politics than this is about books.”

Rep. Bakeberg was not the only lawmaker who spoke in opposition to the bill. Representative Peggy Bennet (R-Albert Lea) said the decisions should remain at the local level and not be determined by state government officials. 

The Minnesota House Press Team says other parts of the bill would provide clarifications and notable provisions. 

• Delay citizenship course requirements for 11th and 12th graders to start in the 2025-26 school year;
• Require special education teachers to have advanced training to obtain a Tier 1 or Tier 2 special education license;
• Ensure that a child of a teenage parent who is in foster care or in need of child protection services qualifies for an early learning scholarship; and
• Require school districts to offer effective language assistance to students and adults who communicate in a language other than English.

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