Senate passes SB 1098 undermines parents rights

Senate Democrats Undermine Local Control and Parental Rights by Passing SB 1098
By Oregon Senate Republican Caucus,

SALEM, Ore. – In a move that strips parents and local school boards of authority, Senate Democrats today passed Senate Bill 1098, shifting control over school library content to unelected state bureaucrats. The bill forces families and educators through a convoluted bureaucratic process, ultimately stripping communities of their ability to decide what is appropriate for their own schools.

“We need parents to encourage their children to read from school libraries without having to worry about them finding inappropriate books on their shelves,” said Senator Noah Robinson (R-Cave Junction), a member of the Senate Education Committee. “Instead, SB 1098 handcuffs local school districts and parents, forcing them to accept materials that may be graphic, violent, or simply inappropriate for young minds. This isn’t about censorship. It’s about common sense.”

Public polling consistently shows overwhelming support for parental involvement in education. Yet, Senate Democrats ignored these concerns and rejected a Republican-led Minority Report that would have protected local decision-making and ensured parents have a say in what their children are exposed to at school.

“We should focus on fixing abysmal reading and math scores, not making it harder for parents to protect their kids from explicit content,” said Senator Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook), a former teacher and vice-chair of the Senate Education Committee. “Right now, three out of four eighth graders in Oregon can’t read at grade level. That’s a crisis. Instead of tackling real problems, Democrats passed a bill that expands government control and keeps inappropriate books on school shelves. Our kids deserve better.”

SB 1098 now moves to the Oregon House of Representatives for consideration.