SB 19: Instructional Materials; Sexually Explicit Content
🟡 THREAT LEVEL: MODERATE
BILL SNAPSHOT
Bill Number: SB 19
Bill Patron: Del. Mamie E. Locke (Chief Patron)
Issue Area: Education / Parental Rights / School Policy
Who It Will Impact: Parents, Students, Virginia Department of Education, Local School Boards
QUICK SUMMARY
SB 19 amends current law concerning sexually explicit material used in public schools. It limits parental notification to instructional material assigned a teacher. This amendment specifically excludes parental notification regarding sexually explicit materials contained in public school libraries.
RALLY ANALYSIS
SB 19 limits parents’ ability to advocate for age-appropriate materials. It centralizes decision-making with unelected education bureaucrats rather than families.
The bill shields school systems from scrutiny over empowering parents with transparency and local control.
Bottom line for parents: Under SB 19, parents are notified only when explicit content is formally assigned — not when it is readily available. Once a book is in the library, this law cannot be used to challenge its presence, no matter how graphic the content may be.
WHY THIS MATTERS
- Limits parental awareness of explicit materials accessible to students
- Protects library content from challenge, regardless of age-appropriateness
- Shifts power away from parents and toward centralized education policy
RALLY VERDICT: ⚠️ PROCEED WITH CAUTION
SB 19 ultimately reduces parental leverage and locks in protections for controversial materials within schools.
Rally Radar urges lawmakers to vote no on SB 19.
RALLY RADAR — THREAT LEVEL LEGEND
⚫ CRITICAL THREAT — Immediate and severe harm; must be stopped
🔴 HIGH THREAT — Serious risk to safety, liberty, or governance
🟡 MODERATE THREAT — Concerning but limited scope
🟢 LOW THREAT — Minimal impact or symbolic
