(NewsNation) — A new law will make it easier to ban books statewide in Utah if they are challenged in a handful of school districts.
Gov. Spencer Cox signed the legislation Monday, which will go into effect July 1. If a bill is banned by at least three school districts, or two school districts and five charter schools because it contains “criminally indecent or pornographic” material, it can be banned statewide.
An earlier bill would have automatically banned such books but lawmakers added the ability for the Utah State Board of Education to vote on overriding a ban.
Activists have been promoting efforts to ban books in schools in multiple states, arguing that children are being exposed to explicit and otherwise objectionable material in schools.
Opponents of the bill argued it will give too much power to a small group of parents and activists to determine what is allowed in school libraries.
Analysis of book challenges has found that the majority of challenges were brought by a small number of people and that books featuring LGBTQ+ content are especially likely to be challenged.
