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Oregon's Freedom To Read Act

In 2025, Oregon passed the Freedom to Read Act. This law prohibits discrimination in the selection, retention or adoption of school library materials, textbooks, instructional materials, and curriculum. It also establishes requirements for when and how these materials can be removed.
The law applies to all Oregon public schools, public charter schools, and the State Board of Education. 
Oregon law protects people from discrimination based on 12 protected classes: age, citizenship status, color, disability, gender identity, immigration status, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

What does the law prohibit?

Individuals who choose or approve library books, textbooks, or instructional materials cannot reject or remove them just because they include the perspectives, studies of, or stories of people from a protected class, or because they were created by someone from a protected class. 
Individuals who are not responsible for choosing these materials cannot remove them unless they follow the school's formal reconsideration process. 
Individuals responsible for the development, implementation and approval of curriculum cannot refuse to allow the use of instructional materials simply because they include the perspectives, studies of, or stories of people from a protected class, or because they were created by someone from a protected class. 

What does the law require?

Library books, textbooks, and instructional materials can only be removed through a formal reconsideration process. To remove materials, all of the following must happen:
  • Someone must submit a request to remove the material. 
  • The request must come from a parent or guardian of a student at the school or from a school employee. 
  • A formal request must be made in writing. 
  • A school or school district reconsideration committee must review the request. 
  • The material must stay available while the review is taking place. 
  • The material cannot be removed because it includes the experiences, viewpoints, or stories of people from a protected class, or because it was created by someone from a protected class. 
  • If the material is removed, the reconsideration committee must provide a written explanation that is available to the public.

Filing a Complaint

Allegations that library, instructional or program materials were selected, retained, or removed on a discriminatory basis are addressed by OAR 581-022-2370 and OAR 581-075-0010. Additional details about complaint and appeal processes can be found in the FAQs below.
The ODE Civil Rights Unit is the point of contact for questions regarding library, instructional or program materials that may have been selected, retained, or removed on a discriminatory basis in Oregon K-12 public schools or public charter schools. 
Students, families, or community members should contact ODE.CivilRightsSupport@ode.oregon.gov or 971-673-2777.  
School districts, public charter schools, education partners, and all other parties should contact ODE.CivilRights@ode.oregon.gov or 971-673-2777.
For school district guidance on addressing challenged materials, please visit the Library and Media Education webpage.

*As of July 1, 2026, immigration status and citizenship status were added as protected classes under Oregon law (SB 1538; ORS 659.850). Documents including references to Oregon's protected classes should now include age, citizenship status, color, disability, gender identity, immigration status, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.