Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB396: Provide requirements for public library resources containing material of a sexual or graphic sexual nature
Status: Failed, May 23, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act requiring that resources in a public library that contain material of a sexual or a graphic sexual nature be placed only in the young adult or adult sections of the library; providing that a member of the community may object to the placement of a resource that contains materials of a sexual or a graphic sexual nature; providing that a library may provide a child access to ageappropriate digital content only at the discretion of the child's parent or guardian; and amending sections 22-1-301, 22-1-309, 22-1-310, 22-1-326, and 22-1-712, mca.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REQUIRING THAT RESOURCES IN A PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT CONTAIN MATERIAL OF A SEXUAL OR A GRAPHIC SEXUAL NATURE BE PLACED ONLY IN THE YOUNG ADULT OR ADULT SECTIONS OF THE LIBRARY; PROVIDING THAT A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY MAY OBJECT TO THE PLACEMENT OF A RESOURCE THAT CONTAINS MATERIALS OF A SEXUAL OR A GRAPHIC SEXUAL NATURE; PROVIDING THAT A LIBRARY MAY PROVIDE A CHILD ACCESS TO AGEAPPROPRIATE DIGITAL CONTENT ONLY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHILD'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 22-1-301, 22-1-309, 22-1-310, 22-1-326, AND 22-1-712, MCA." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Availability of collections and resources -- protection of young library patrons. (1) The legislature intends that free public libraries are for the whole community to have a safe and inviting environment for learning and research. (2) The library board of trustees shall ensure that the chief librarian develops and maintains cataloging standards for the resources available in the library that comply with the following requirements: (a) a resource containing material of a sexual nature must be placed in the young adult or adult section of the library, regardless of the targeted or intended reading age for that resource; and (b) a resource containing material of a graphic …