Iowa Lawmakers Propose Restricting Minors' Access to 'Harmful' Library Materials

Bill would require parental consent and create criminal penalties for librarians who provide access without approval.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Despite warnings from librarians and advocates that a new bill passed by an Iowa House subcommittee would endanger public libraries, supporters argue the measure is needed to prevent minors from accessing 'harmful' materials. The bill prohibits public libraries from disseminating 'material harmful to minors' without parental consent, defines such material broadly, and imposes criminal penalties on librarians who provide access without approval.

Why it matters

This bill is part of a larger effort by some Iowa lawmakers to restrict access to certain library materials, raising concerns about censorship, the future of public libraries, and the balance between parental rights and the free flow of information.

The details

House File 2309 prohibits public libraries from allowing minors to access 'material harmful to minors' without parental consent. 'Harmful' material is defined broadly, including anything that 'appeals to the prurient interest of minors in sex, nudity or excretion.' Libraries would have to create separate 'adult' sections for restricted materials and implement systems to prevent minors from accessing them without approval. Librarians who provide access to restricted materials could face criminal charges, including up to two years in jail and fines up to $10,000 for repeat offenses.

  • The House subcommittee passed the bill on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Leslie Noble

Representative of the Iowa Library Association, who warned the bill would impose significant burdens on public libraries and result in reduced services to families and young people.

Sam Helmick

President of the American Library Association and employee at the Iowa City Public Library, who said the measure would turn Iowa libraries into 'sites of surveillance' and threaten library workers with criminal penalties.

Rep. Samantha Fett

Republican state representative from Carlisle, Iowa, who argued the bill would not add new costs for public libraries since they already have separate sections.

Teri Hubbard

Library board member in Sioux Center, Iowa, who said the measure is not a book ban and simply recognizes that minors and adults should be treated differently when it comes to sexually explicit material.

Rep. Charley Thomson

Republican state representative from Charles City, Iowa, who introduced the bill and said opponents were mischaracterizing what the bill does.

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What they’re saying

“Compliance with this bill may all but be impossible without restricting minors' access to library collections altogether. This would result in reduced services to families and young people.”

— Leslie Noble, Representative, Iowa Library Association (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

“This bill replaces local control and professional standards with a rigid, punitive framework that will harm communities across Iowa.”

— Leslie Noble, Representative, Iowa Library Association (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

“As leaders, you should set aside the divisiveness of state-mandated walls, which cannot be accommodated in our tiny libraries. Let us refuse to be an Iowa that polices the mind, and instead be a state that empowers the spirit.”

— Sam Helmick, President, American Library Association (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

“Minors currently have unrestricted access in public libraries to materials containing graphic depictions of sexual activity and sexual violence. We would not consider that developmentally neutral in any other public setting.”

— Teri Hubbard, Library Board Member, Sioux Center (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

“Somebody mentioned banning books — this doesn't ban a single piece of paper. This restricts access to minors, and (leaves) the access decision up to the parents, where it should be.”

— Rep. Charley Thomson (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

What’s next

The full Iowa House is expected to consider the bill in the coming weeks, and if passed, it would then move to the state Senate for consideration.

The takeaway

This bill reflects a broader debate over the role of public libraries and the balance between parental rights and the free flow of information. While supporters argue it's about protecting minors, critics warn it could lead to censorship and the erosion of public library services across Iowa.