GA SB394

Establishes the 10-member Georgia Council on Library Materials Standards, appointed by the Governor (4), Lieutenant Governor (2), Speaker of the House (2), and minority caucus leaders (1 each), to set standards for public school library programs, instructional materials, and the designation of restricted materials by local boards of education, with standards due by August 1, 2024, and annual updates by June 1 each year.

Prohibits public schools from possessing, acquiring, or disseminating instructional or school library materials that are "harmful to minors" or "sexually explicit," except for materials designated as "restricted" when necessary for grade-appropriate instruction or advanced placement, international baccalaureate, or dual enrollment coursework.

Bans all restricted materials from being accessible to students in grade six or below, and requires written parental or guardian consent for students in grade seven and above to access restricted materials; restricted library materials must be maintained in a physically restricted area.

Requires local boards of education by December 1, 2024, to adopt compliant policies, refuse to acquire primary instructional materials from vendors that do not provide sexually explicit content ratings, publish annual lists of instructional materials containing sexually explicit content on their websites, and submit annual lists of retained restricted library materials to the Department of Education for public posting.

Expands the definition of "harmful to minors" to include "sexually explicit material" (excluding designated restricted material), mandates that materials subject to a pending complaint be embargoed from student access during the complaint resolution process, and requires "written consent" to be individual and specific rather than blanket consent.