Bill > SB1495

This bill, known as the Age-Appropriate Materials Act, prohibits public school districts and public charter schools from purchasing, housing, distributing, or making available to students any materials that are considered obscene, depict sexual conduct, contain sexually explicit content, nudity, or are otherwise harmful to minors, with definitions provided for these terms. School districts and charter schools are required to adopt policies to identify and remove such materials by March 1, 2027, and to review materials before acquiring new ones, while also maintaining documentation of their compliance. Annually, by August 15, schools must audit all print and nonprint materials and multimedia resources and remove any that violate these provisions, and starting September 8, 2027, they must maintain a public inventory of all materials. The State Board of Education, in collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, will develop standards for library media programs that include prohibiting the acquisition of prohibited materials and requiring an online library catalog accessible to the public, though local school boards or governing bodies can adopt more restrictive policies. The bill also establishes a process for parents, guardians, residents, or taxpayers to formally challenge materials suspected of violating these standards, which involves immediate removal of the material pending review by the school principal and superintendent, and potentially a public meeting by the board of education or governing body if the challenge is denied, with the option for legal action if a decision is still unsatisfactory. This act is set to become effective on November 1, 2026.