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While some states have been banning books by the hundreds, California appears headed in the opposite direction 鈥� enacting a law that would penalize local school boards that block any book reflecting the state鈥檚 diversity.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is poised to sign , which is intended to prevent school boards from banning books based solely on the books鈥� inclusion of history or culture related to Black, Latino, Asian, Native American, LGBTQ people or other groups. It expands the state鈥檚 existing education code requiring schools to in curriculum.

鈥�(This bill) offers a clear statement from the Legislature and governor about California鈥檚 commitment to free inquiry and non-discrimination in our public schools,鈥� said UCLA education professor John Rogers, who鈥檚 studied book bans. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 always been important, but it鈥檚 particularly important now, as we鈥檙e seeing efforts in some areas to challenge the role of the public school as an instrument to promote the ideals of inclusion and diverse democracy.鈥�

The bill follows a much-publicized effort in Temecula, in Riverside County, to block an elementary social studies textbook that includes a supplemental lesson on San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, the gay rights icon who was assassinated in 1978. The Temecula Valley Unified board in June voted to ban the textbook, with the majority arguing that lessons about LGBTQ rights and history are not appropriate for children.

Newsom intervened, threatening to send the textbook 鈥� which had already been approved by the state and Temecula teachers 鈥� to students directly and bill the district. The board then reversed course and agreed to adopt the materials.

But the events in Temecula are not what inspired the bill鈥檚 author, Assemblymember , a Democrat from Moreno Valley. He said it was Florida that drove him to it. According to a compiled by PEN America, Florida school districts, under a law signed by Gov. Rick DeSantis, have banned more than 500 books, including novels by Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison and biographies of baseball great Hank Aaron.

鈥淭hese disgusting tactics are part of a national strategy by conservatives to literally retell history to not reflect the truth about people of color and people who identify as LGBTQ,鈥� Jackson said.

鈥淲e have to take a stand, and prevent what鈥檚 happening in Florida from happening in California. We are in new territory, and we cannot be afraid to act.鈥�

If signed by Newsom, the bill, which won legislative support on Thursday, would take effect immediately and create a new process for the public to complain directly to the state superintendent of public instruction if they feel students are being deprived of proper education materials. The state would provide the textbooks to the students and could deduct the cost of the textbooks from the district鈥檚 funding.

Although the bill has undergone a slew of amendments since it was introduced, the California School Boards Association remained opposed as of today. The bill鈥檚 intentions are laudable, said association spokesman Troy Flint, but the repercussions could be negative and long-lasting.

California already has a to adopt a new curriculum, he noted. In addition, the state, county offices of education and local school districts have for the public to protest textbooks, policies or other facets of the education system. The public also has an opportunity to weigh in on textbooks when county offices of education conduct their annual reviews of instructional materials.

Instead, the bill would further , which under California鈥檚 system of 鈥渓ocal control鈥� have a large degree of autonomy, he said.

鈥淲e understand the motivations behind the bill, and we agree on the importance of students having access to inclusive textbooks,鈥� Flint said. 鈥淏ut we think there are less inflammatory ways to handle this.鈥�

Flint also pointed out that the bill could potentially stop schools from banning books that some might feel are racist or homophobic. That has already happened in some California schools. In 2020, Burbank Unified in Los Angeles County banned 鈥淭o Kill a Mockingbird,鈥� 鈥淥f Mice and Men,鈥� 鈥淭he Adventures of Huckleberry Finn鈥� and two other books after parents complained that the books are racist.

鈥淭he implications are significant鈥� Proponents are under the impression that the people in charge now will forever remain so,鈥� Flint said. 鈥淎 good law is just in all situations, not only in reaction to a certain environment.鈥�

Jonathan Alexander, an English professor at UC Irvine, praised the bill, saying that protecting students鈥� access to high-quality works of literature 鈥� especially pertaining to LGBTQ issues 鈥� is more important than ever, considering the current polarized political climate. Students of all backgrounds and identities can benefit from learning the history and experiences of other groups, hopefully leading to a more equitable and accepting society, he said.

鈥淚f anyone鈥檚 going to lead us out of our current apocalypse, it鈥檚 going to be young people who鈥檝e learned from each other and can show us better paths forward,鈥� Alexander said.

Book bans such as those in Florida can be damaging to young people鈥檚 mental health, especially LGBTQ youth who might be searching for positive stories featuring characters like themselves. The publishing industry is in a golden age of LGBTQ youth literature, he said, with a wide breadth of sensitive, well-written books available. Schools should be promoting those books, not banning them.

鈥淐alifornia is sending a signal that we value inclusivity. We鈥檙e actively encouraging young people to think about what kind of life they want to craft for themselves, what the possibilities are for their future,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 in direct contradiction to what鈥檚 happening in other states.鈥�

Alexander and Rogers both pointed out that the bill could have wide-ranging benefits.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important that young people grapple with the full history of our country, even if it can be uncomfortable,鈥� Rogers said, 鈥渟o as adults, they鈥檙e in position to make it a more just place.鈥�

 is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.