NC lawmakers could restrict LGBTQ+ books in elementary school libraries
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The bill specifies elementary school libraries are covered by the K–4 ban on instruction.
- The bill would require parental consent before a student uses a different name or pronoun.
- The bill lets parents seek legal action with $5,000 penalties per violation.
North Carolina Republican lawmakers want to add further limits on teaching about gender and sexuality in elementary schools, including creating a way to fine schools that violate the ban.
State Rep. Brenden Jones filed legislation on Thursday that would expand the current ban on instruction about gender identity, sexuality or sexual activity in kindergarten through fourth grade to include materials in elementary school libraries.
The legislation also requires parental consent before a student can use a different name or pronoun and creates financial penalties for violating the 2023 law known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights.
The bill was filed the same day that Jones, a Columbus County Republican, chaired a House oversight committee hearing about books in Chapel Hill-Carrboro school libraries. House Bill 1043 is called the Curriculum Honesty, Compliance and Child Safety (CHCCS) Act and has the same abbreviation used for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
“When a district chooses not to follow the law, it should not expect to continue receiving taxpayer dollars without accountability,” Jones said during the hearing. “Public funds have a public obligation. If those obligations are ignored, there will be consequences.”
State lawmakers billed the Parents’ Bill of Rights as a way to give parents more control over their children’s education.
Critics charged the bill discriminates against LGBTQ+ students and families.
Rep. Allen Buansi, a Democrat who represents Chapel Hill, lambasted Thursday’s hearing and Jones’ legislation in a statement.
“It is extremely shameful that today, in a committee meeting, valuable taxpayer money and resources were spent attacking a public school system and engaging in divisive culture wars, instead of funding public schools for the sake of the children,” he said.
The NC Values Coalition, a Christian advocacy group, came out in support of the bill, accusing school districts of violating the Parent’s Bill of Rights.
“It is high time that these sanctimonious school administrators and school boards be held to account,” Tami Fitzgerald, the group’s executive director, said. “We applaud the creation of meaningful remedies like the ability of parents to sue the school district and the withholding of school funding tied to administration of these defiant and wayward schools.”
Can the bill pass?
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein has vetoed similar bills in the past, and House Republicans are one vote shy of the supermajority needed to override a veto on their own.
So, for Jones’ proposal to become law, he’d likely need to gain the support of at least one Democrat in the House.
Last summer, Democratic Rep. Nasif Majeed became the decisive vote in enacting a controversial bill surrounding sexuality and religion in schools.
Majeed lost his Democratic primary election last month, but he’s still serving out the rest of his term in the House, meaning he could once again cast a decisive vote on a veto override.
What’s in the new bill
Provisions of the bill include:
- Expands the current requirement that schools notify parents before their child uses a different name or pronoun. Parental consent would now also be required before the different name or pronoun is used.
- Parental consent must also be given before a student receives counseling services related to sexuality or gender identity or is referred to outside service providers for sexuality or gender identity.
- Spells out that elementary school libraries are covered in the ban on instruction about gender identity, sexual activity or sexuality in kindergarten through fourth grade.
- Creates a process in which parents who say the Parents’ Bill of Rights is being violated can seek legal action, with penalties of $5,000 per violation against schools.
- Authorizes the withholding of state funds to school districts and charter schools that the State Auditor’s Office says are not in compliance with the law.
Staff writer Tammy Grubb contributed.
This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 1:46 PM with the headline "NC lawmakers could restrict LGBTQ+ books in elementary school libraries."
