Rep. Balkcom files bill in North Carolina House to regulate school library content

A new bill filed by State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom in the North Carolina House seeks to ensure public schools adopt policies restricting access to inappropriate library materials, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 636 on April 1 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Promoting Wholesome Content for Students.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill establishes procedures to ensure that public schools do not make content harmful to minors available and provides a private cause of action for parents, guardians, or residents against schools violating these rules. It requires public school units to adopt a policy for selecting library media, focusing on materials that do not depict sexual activity or contain excessive vulgarity. A database of rejected materials will be maintained and made publicly available. A community library advisory committee will investigate objections to library content. The principal must review all media for book fairs to ensure compliance. Additionally, the bill allows for civil remedies, including declaratory and injunctive relief and damages for violations, with an emphasis on exhausting administrative remedies before legal action. The act becomes effective immediately upon becoming law.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Brian Biggs proposed the most bills (30) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Balkcom graduated from Blue Ridge Community College in 2016 with an AA.

Balkcom, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 117th House district, replacing previous state representative Timothy Moffitt.