Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announced on Wednesday his commitment to implement legislation aimed at penalizing public schools that fail to eliminate explicit books from their libraries. His proposal includes a reduction in the schools’ performance ratings, which the state utilizes to take control of underperforming districts.
During a press conference at the Texas Capitol, Patrick, flanked by easels displaying the covers of books he deemed inappropriate, criticized school boards and administrators for not adhering to a 2025 law intended to remove obscene materials from the shelves of Texas’ more than 9,000 schools, which serve approximately 5.5 million students.
“It’s the law, and we expect compliance. We are coming for the books,” Patrick stated. “We encourage you to take the initiative and remove these books yourself.”
Last year, Senate Bill 13 was enacted, granting school boards the authority to approve or remove books based on complaints from parents and activist groups, a power that previously resided primarily with school librarians. However, Patrick expressed disappointment that most school boards have not acted on this legislation nearly a year after its enactment.
The lieutenant governor showcased books at his news conference that, he claimed, remain accessible in some Texas schools despite being banned in state prisons. He described them as “filthy, dirty, vulgar, and pornographic,” asserting that he would not open them out of respect for the women present.
Despite his strong stance, Patrick clarified that the state is not outright banning books. “No books are banned in America. You can purchase any book you wish,” he remarked. “However, we do not utilize taxpayer funds to acquire these books for our schools.”
In his role as lieutenant governor, Patrick presides over the Texas Senate, wielding significant influence to guide the chamber’s agenda and facilitate the passage of his favored legislation. He confirmed that under his proposed measures, schools could lose an entire letter grade if a single inappropriate book is found in their library.
This initiative represents a continuation of a prolonged conflict led by Texas Republicans against literature that often addresses LGBTQ+ and racial issues. Advocates for childhood literacy and librarians argue that such books are vital for students who may not encounter reflections of their own experiences in other literature and may not be able to afford to purchase these books themselves.
At his press conference, Patrick pointed out that over 90% of parents and grandparents would object to their children reading the books he highlighted, some of which contained depictions of masturbation and explicit images of genitalia.
As Patrick prepares for reelection, he will face state Representative Vikki Goodwin, a Democrat from Austin, in the upcoming November election.
