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How Utah Reviews School Books

Utah law sets the tests for removing school books. Districts and charter schools carry out local reviews, while State Board rules guide the process. Follow the steps below, then see the records behind them.

Who gets to decide whether a book stays in school?

The 2024 book review steps

Districts and charter schools review local complaints. The State Board sets rules and oversees statewide removal. These steps explain the 2024 law and rule; the dated records below show how they developed.

  1. Who may ask? A local staff member, board member, enrolled student or parent with a child there may request a review. If the review ends with the book kept, the challenge has failed. After three failed challenges in one school year, that person cannot start more reviews for the rest of that year. Law, pages 4–5, section 3
  2. Who reviews it? Local staff first check whether the facts could support the claim. If so, students lose access while a group of at least three people, including a parent, conducts the objective review. Law, page 5, section 4 rule, section 3
  3. What do they decide? Reviewers first check for “objective sensitive material.” A book that meets that test cannot be used by students. If it does not meet the test, a separate “subjective” review follows. During that stage, a parent may allow their child to read the book, but that option ends if the review finds subjective sensitive material. Law, page 5, section 4
  4. Who hears an appeal? The local board hears appeals and must vote at a public meeting. This gives people a way to challenge the local decision, separate from a review by the State Board. Law, pages 5–6, section 5
  5. When does a local ruling reach the whole state? Final objective findings must come from at least three school districts, or two districts and five charter schools. Once that count is met, public schools across Utah must remove the book. The State Board has a set time to start a review and can vote to end the statewide ban. Law, pages 6–7, section 7 rule, sections 4–5

Follow the statewide threshold and notice steps · See what can change after a decision

Rules, statutes and local responsibilities

February–October 2022; later rule versions through 2026 · Utah

On February 3, 2022, the Utah State Board of Education approved rule R277-628, Draft 3, on second and final reading. The minutes record that the motion carried, with Member Cline opposed.

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On February 25, 2022, Rep. Ken Ivory presented H.B. 374, Sensitive Materials in Schools, to the House Education Committee. He was assisted by Brooke Stephens of Utah Parents United, and with Washington County Superintendent Larry Bergeson they distributed handouts and answered questions. The committee adopted the second substitute and sent it out favorably, 11–2, with two absent.

The enacted law bans materials meeting its sensitive-material definition in public schools, including libraries. It requires parents to take part in decisions and the State Board to develop guidance with the Attorney General.

The May 2, 2024 State Board packet includes proposed conflict-of-interest limits for book-review committees. Draft 3, dated April 22, names book purchasers and the challenger as examples.

Start with the record: Read the February 3, 2022 Board minutes (PDF, page 13) (opens in a new window)

Documented
24 sources for February–October 2022; later rule versions through 2026
Full record

Private information in a public hearing

October 19, 2022; later toolkit view August 2026 · Utah; national policy audience

On October 19, 2022, during an Education Interim Committee update on H.B. 374, Ken Ivory introduced Stephens and named RatedBooks.org as the website she and other mothers put together to show material in school libraries.

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The minutes identify Stephens with Utah Parents United and record her and Diane Livingston discussing school sensitive materials. The legislative archive holds a handout titled "Rated Book Review List, October 2022".

On August 28, 2026, the RatedBooks Advocate page directed readers from reports and slicksheets to Amplify contacts, running a bill and creating a policy. The page was viewed on that date; its launch date is unknown.

Documented
2 sources for October 19, 2022; later toolkit view August 2026
Full record

Standards applied in a local case

December 11, 2022–June 20, 2023 · Utah: Davis

On December 11, 2022, Davis School District received a request to review the King James Bible. The policy in effect required access to remain the same during review.

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On May 22, 2023, the review committee found no bright-line violation, meaning the Bible passed the test for certain sexual content. A separate age review limited it to high school libraries. That review weighed its content against its serious value for minors.

Davis received appeals on May 31, 2023. Three school board members reviewed the decision and later recommended access at every grade level. They concluded that the Bible’s significant, serious value for minors under community standards outweighed its violent or vulgar content.

On June 20, 2023, the board unanimously restored the Bible to elementary, junior high and high school libraries. Both committees found no bright-line violation; they disagreed on age appropriateness.

Documented
41 sources for December 11, 2022–June 20, 2023
Full record

Open questions

Which versions were adopted, and when did they take effect? Local policy differences, guidance and later corrections also need checking.

When local decisions reach the whole state

See which final local findings count toward statewide removal.

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