Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1685: Book fairs; require school districts to adopt policy regulating content of books for sale.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL BOARD OF EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ADOPT A POLICY REGULATING THE CONTENT OF BOOKS MADE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BY STUDENTS AT SCHOOL BOOK FAIRS; TO REQUIRE THE POLICY TO INCLUDE CERTAIN PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to require the school board of each school district to adopt a policy regulating the content of books made available for purchase by students at school book fairs; to require the policy to include certain provisions; and for related purposes.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL BOARD OF EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ADOPT A POLICY REGULATING THE CONTENT OF BOOKS MADE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BY STUDENTS AT SCHOOL BOOK FAIRS; TO REQUIRE THE POLICY TO INCLUDE CERTAIN PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. The school board of each school district shall adopt a policy regulating the content of books made available for purchase by students at book fairs hosted by schools within that district. The policy must include, but need not be limited to, provisions addressing the following: (a) Restrictions prohibiting the inclusion of books containing themes, characters or any references relating to matters sexual in nature, sexual orientation or gender identity; (b) A requirement that the vendor or sponsor of a book fair provide to the school a list of the titles that will be offered to students; (c) A requirement that the school principal designate the school librarian or another licensed employee to review the *HR43/R2166* H. B. No. 1685 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/HR43/R2166 PAGE 1 (DJ\KP) list to identify books that, due to their content, may not be included in the book fair; (d) A requirement that the agreement to host the book fair include a provision that if the vendor or sponsor of …
Sponsors
- Varner, Lance (R, 62) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Died In Committee
- : Referred To Education
Subjects: Book fairs
Common questions
- What is HB1685?
- HB1685 is a bill in the Mississippi Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Book fairs; require school districts to adopt policy regulating content of books for sale.
- What does HB1685 do?
- In its own words: An act to require the school board of each school district to adopt a policy regulating the content of books made available for purchase by students at school book fairs; to require the policy to include certain provisions; and for related purposes.
- What is the status of HB1685?
- Failed as of February 3, 2026. Latest action: Died In Committee (February 3, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1685?
- Varner, Lance (R, 62).
- Where is the official record for HB1685?
- On the Mississippi Legislature website: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1685.xml
Source: official Mississippi record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.