HB 1499: DOE; policies relating to instructional material that contains sexually explicit content.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Department of Education; policies relating to instructional material that contains sexually explicit content; applicability; construction. Amends current law requiring the Department of Education to develop model policies and each school board to adopt policies consistent with the Department's model policies for ensuring parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content by (i) defining "instructional material" as any material, regardless of its format, assigned and provided to a student by a public school teacher directly for the completion of an assignment or curricular objective and clarifying that "instructional material" does not include any book or audiovisual material available in a public school library unless specifically required or assigned by a public school teacher directly for completion of an assignment or curricular objective and (ii) providing that nothing in the applicable law or any model policy or amendments thereto adopted by the Department or any policy or amendments thereto adopted by a school board pursuant to the applicable law shall be (a) construed to permit the censoring of books in any public elementary or secondary school or (b) utilized as a rationale or basis for the removal of books from any public elementary or secondary school. This bill is identical to SB 19.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. April 6, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0321)
2. April 6, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 321 (effective 7/1/2026)
3. March 10, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
4. March 10, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
5. February 25, 2026Signed by President
6. February 25, 2026Signed by Speaker
7. February 25, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1499)
8. February 25, 2026Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1499ER)
9. February 25, 2026Enrolled
10. February 23, 2026Passed Senate (20-Y 18-N 0-A)
11. February 23, 2026Read third time
12. February 20, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Showing 12 most recent of 26 actions. Full history