Senate adopts library policy bill after amendments to clarify district processes and protections
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Summary
Senate Bill 63, which sets standards for school library resource policies and procedures for reconsideration requests, passed after amendments that clarified conforming language and added protections for librarians and posting requirements for districts.
DENVER — The Colorado Senate adopted Senate Bill 63 on Feb. 18 following committee work and an amendment to conform statutory language.
The bill requires public school libraries to adopt and post clear reconsideration policies for library materials, restricts repeated challenges by the same requester (no more than once every two years for the same material), and includes language to protect librarians from retaliation for following district policies. Sponsors said the goal is to safeguard student access to a broad range of educational resources while giving parents of enrolled students standing to file reconsideration requests.
Senator Cutter, the bill sponsor in the Senate, said the bill was revised in committee to address implementation concerns raised by the education community and to make the provisions easier to implement. Co‑sponsor Senator Michaelson Genet said the measure protects librarians and improves transparency.
Opponents, notably Senator Lundin, called the bill premature and said it would create administrative burdens for districts and risks of repeated litigation or doxxing of parents. Lundin argued that the bill's requirements — including a two‑year suspension on repeated requests for the same material — could be costly for districts and that current reconsideration processes already exist in local districts.
The Senate adopted Amendment L008 (conforming language) on the floor and then passed the bill. The measure moves forward for final steps and to be enrolled for the governor's signature.