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Bill > HB1028
AR HB1028
AR HB1028To Amend Provisions Of The Law Concerning Obscenity And The Process For Challenging Materials Included In A Library; And To Require A Library To Have A Policy Prohibiting Book Banning In Order To Receive State Funding.
summary
Introduced
11/20/2024
11/20/2024
In Committee
01/13/2025
01/13/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
05/05/2025
05/05/2025
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)
Bill Summary
AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LIBRARIES; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MATERIALS MADE AVAILABLE BY LIBRARIES; TO REPEAL PROVISIONS OF THE LAW CONCERNING THE PROCESS FOR CHALLENGING MATERIALS INCLUDED IN A LIBRARY; TO REPEAL THE OFFENSE OF FURNISHING A HARMFUL ITEM TO A MINOR; TO AMEND PROVISIONS IN THE CRIMINAL CODE CONCERNING OBSCENITY; TO REQUIRE A LIBRARY TO HAVE A WRITTEN POLICY PROHIBITING BOOK BANNING IN ORDER TO RECEIVE STATE FUNDING; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE INFORMATION THAT A LIBRARY MAY DISCLOSE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
AI Summary
This bill proposes several significant changes to Arkansas laws concerning libraries, obscenity, and material availability. It repeals the existing law regarding furnishing harmful items to minors, modifies provisions about obscenity in libraries, and eliminates previous processes for challenging library materials. The bill introduces a new requirement that public libraries must have a written policy explicitly prohibiting book banning in order to receive state funding. Specifically, the legislation expands protections for library employees and directors, removing potential liability for disseminating materials that might be considered obscene, and removes previous detailed procedures for challenging library materials in both school and public libraries. Additionally, the bill removes restrictions on library record disclosure, effectively protecting patron privacy more comprehensively. The most notable provision is the new state funding requirement, which mandates that libraries adopt an anti-book banning policy to continue receiving state financial support, potentially preventing the removal of books based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. (on 05/05/2025)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1028&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R |
| House Amendment H1 | https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FAMEND%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FHB1028-H1.pdf |
| BillText | https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FHB1028.pdf |
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