Appeals Court Blocks Texas Law Requiring Book Ratings

Austin’s CBS affiliate reports:

The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the Texas Education Agency on Wednesday from enforcing a state law requiring booksellers to rate the explicitness and relevance of sexual references in materials they sell to schools.

The appellate court, one of the most conservative in the nation, agreed with booksellers who sued the state, claiming the 2023 law violated their First Amendment rights. The court affirmed a district court’s temporary injunction, preventing TEA Commissioner Mike Morath from enforcing House Bill 900.

Read the full article.

A coalition of Texas bookstores and national bookseller associations allege that the law is vague, overbroad, and violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Additionally, they note that assessing millions of books to apply ratings is simply impossible for companies to do. The bill’s author, Rep. Jared Patterson [photo], previously appeared here for his “Don’t Say Gay” and anti-drag bills.

#BREAKING: Fifth circuit court of appeals sides with bookstores, including @BookPeople, saying HB 900, which requires booksellers to rate books based on sexual content, likely violates First Amendment, blocking the law from taking effect. #txlege pic.twitter.com/wiMYGQdv4n

— Michael Adkison (@madkisonews) January 17, 2024