DeSantis Signs Bill Limiting Challenges To Books

Miami’s ABC affiliate reports:

Florida residents who don’t have children attending school will have significantly fewer chances to challenge books in local K-12 libraries under a new law signed Tuesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Residents who don’t have a child in school will only be able to challenge one title per month under the new law.

Meant to curb what lawmakers described as a “logistical nightmare” facing school districts flooded with requests to remove books, the policy marks an admission from Republican leaders that last year’s expansions to book challenge laws may have gone too far after national backlash from free speech groups and even some conservatives.

Some book transparency advocates say the limit on challenges is “good on its face” yet falls short for not targeting the state rule surrounding book objections. They contend the law won’t slow down some of the state’s more prolific book challengers, such as one person in Clay County responsible for 94 percent of local objections.

Read the full article.

Gov. DeSantis is backing down on book bans.https://t.co/haX50FvoeF

— ACLU of Florida (@ACLUFL) April 16, 2024