House Bill No. 227 Summary

• Requires school district boards of trustees to adopt library selection and access policies by October 1, 2023, prohibiting materials deemed "harmful to minors" and establishing age-appropriate shelving and labeling standards.

• Mandates policies include a challenge process allowing parents or guardians to contest library materials at open board meetings with community input, and a process for parents to restrict their child's access to certain materials.

• Establishes similar selection and access policy requirements for public libraries governed under chapters 26 and 27 of Idaho Code, with identical standards for material selection, access, and community challenge procedures.

• Requires public libraries to adopt library card policies allowing persons 18 years or older to obtain cards freely, and persons under 18 to obtain cards with parental consent on signed application forms requiring driver's license or government ID numbers.

• Applies the same selection and access policy requirements to public charter school libraries, with policies subject to three-year reviews and public comment periods; effective date July 1, 2023.