HB 900 APPEAL REQUEST

As you are aware, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld the ridiculous decision that the State of Texas cannot require government book vendors to ensure they are not sending graphically sexual material to minors in public schools. As the author of HB 900, known as the READER Act, I ask you to appeal their decision to the Supreme Court of the United States as soon as possible. The implications of this legislation are significant, not only for our state, but also for the entire national discourse on protecting children against inappropriate and obscene content.

The READER Act, which set in motion the first-ever mandatory library collection development standards, was crafted based on multiple Supreme Court precedents. We have an opportunity to stand against vendors peddling pornography to children and to reaffirm our commitment to the well-being of all Texas students by appealing this decision to the Supreme Court. I urge you to take decisive action in support of this appeal to send a message that this crisis must be contained. Together, we can work toward a future where every child in Texas is safe from pervasively vulgar and educationally unsuitable content.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your favorable response.