House Republicans in Oregon are opposing Senate Bill 1098, which aims to prevent discrimination in the selection and retention of school library materials, including obscene and sexually explicit books. They argue that if a book’s content is considered indecent or profane for reading aloud on the House floor, it should not be available in school libraries. They believe that local school boards and parents should decide what is appropriate for children to read, not the state. House Republican Leader Christine Drazan and other representatives emphasize the need to restore decency in schools and maintain trust in the education system 

House Republicans define decency in schools by ensuring that books available in school libraries do not contain language or content that would be considered indecent or profane if read aloud on the House floor. They believe that discernment in selecting school library materials is necessary and should not be viewed as discrimination or censorship. 

According to House Republicans, parents, along with locally elected school boards, should play a significant role in determining what is appropriate for children to read in school libraries. They argue that these decisions should be made at the local level rather than by the state.