HB 5460
Display restrictions for county and district libraries
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Editor's call: No flags. On Nov 1, 2026 the editor checked this charge against the bill's caption and removed it.
Corrected Nov 1, 2026
Corrected Nov 1, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.
Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the display of sexually explicit material in public libraries.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Bars defined sexually explicit material, with an exception for required curriculum.
The bill bars librarians in county libraries, library districts, and multi-jurisdictional library districts from displaying sexually explicit material, defined by reference to Penal Code terms for sexual conduct shown in a patently offensive way. It touches librarians and patrons of those three kinds of libraries, and it exempts material tied to required school curriculum. The ban starts September 1, 2025, but the text sets no penalty or enforcement method and does not say what "display" means or whether the material can still be held in the collection.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB5460 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
+ 2 coauthors
ITEM
relating to the display of sexually explicit material in public libraries.
WHAT IT DOES
Bars defined sexually explicit material, with an exception for required curriculum.
The bill bars librarians in county libraries, library districts, and multi-jurisdictional library districts from displaying sexually explicit material, defined by reference to Penal Code terms for sexual conduct shown in a patently offensive way. It touches librarians and patrons of those three kinds of libraries, and it exempts material tied to required school curriculum. The ban starts September 1, 2025, but the text sets no penalty or enforcement method and does not say what "display" means or whether the material can still be held in the collection.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$20,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 14, 2025
04/07/2025 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Libraries & Librarians
THE GOOD, THE TRUE, AND THE BEAUTIFUL ACT (PE2OT)
LIBRARY COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT & MATERIALS (SE35P)
Text
The text as introduced · 386 words
By: Shofner H.B. No. 5460 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the display of sexually explicit material in public libraries. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Good, the True, and the Beautiful Act. SECTION 2. Section 323, Local Government Code is amended by adding Subchapter E to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER E. MATERIALS IN COUNTY LIBRARIES Sec. 323.081. SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS (a) In this section, "sexually explicit material" means any communication, language, or material, including a written description, photographic image, video image, or audio file, excluding library material directly related to required curriculum, as referenced in Section 28.002, Education Code, that describes or portrays sexual conduct, as defined by Section 43.25, Penal Code, in a patently offensive way, as defined by Section 43.21, Penal Code. (b) A county librarian shall not display sexually explicit materials in a county library. SECTION 3. Section 326, Local Government Code is amended by adding Subchapter F to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER F. MATERIALS IN LIBRARY DISTRICTS Sec. 326.101. SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS (a) In this section, "sexually explicit material" means any communication, language, or material, including a written description, photographic image, video image, or audio file, excluding library material directly related to required curriculum, as referenced in Section 28.002, Education Code, that describes or portrays sexual conduct, as defined by Section 43.25, Penal Code, in a patently offensive way, as defined by Section 43.21, Penal Code. (b) A librarian of a district library shall not display sexually explicit materials in a district library. SECTION 4. Section 336, Local Government Code is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER J. MATERIALS IN MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICTS Sec. 336.361 SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS (a) In this section, "sexually explicit material" means any communication, language, or material, including a written description, photographic image, video image, or audio file, excluding library material directly related to required curriculum, as referenced in Section 28.002, Education Code, that describes or portrays sexual conduct, as defined by Section 43.25, Penal Code, in a patently offensive way, as defined by Section 43.21, Penal Code. (b) A librarian of a multi-jurisdictional district library shall not display sexually explicit materials in a multi-jurisdictional district library. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.