North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong vetoed a bill that would have mandated libraries to restrict access to materials considered sexually explicit from minors. The bill faced criticism for its vague language and potential for punitive action against librarians.
Governor Armstrong stated the bill was a “misguided attempt to legislate morality through overreach and censorship,” adding that it imposed “vague and punitive burdens on professionals” with potentially damaging consequences.
While the legislature could potentially override the veto with a two-thirds vote, the bill initially passed the House by a narrow margin (49-45). This action is part of a larger conservative movement in several Republican-led states to limit access to books considered inappropriate for children, a move that has sparked concerns from librarians and free speech advocates. Other states with similar legislation include Idaho, Iowa, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota vetoed a bill this week that would have required most libraries in the state to keep material considered sexually explicit in areas difficult for minors to access. Under the measure, librarians who do not comply could have faced prosecution.
Mr. Armstrong, a Republican former congressman in his first year as governor, said in his veto message that the bill “represents a misguided attempt to legislate morality through overreach and censorship.”
“The bill imposes vague and punitive burdens on professionals,” Mr. Armstrong added in a letter dated Tuesday, “and opens the door to a host of unintended and damaging consequences for our communities.”
The legislature could override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House, but the bill passed the House with a narrow, 49-to-45 majority. Republicans hold large majorities in both chambers.
The legislation was part of a broader push by conservatives to restrict access to library books that they consider inappropriate for children, an effort that has alarmed many librarians and free speech advocates. New library laws or regulations have been approved in recent years in several Republican-led states, including Idaho, Iowa, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah.
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