Senate President Kathleen Passidomo is backing efforts to limit book challenges in Florida’s public schools, suggesting that recent challenges have gone too far. The move that could reduce the number of book bans comes amid sweeping book challenges that have disrupted Florida school districts. Between July 2022 and June 2023, PEN America, the international writers’ group, reported that Florida accounted for 1,406 or 40% of book removals in the country.
Proposed legislation includes a $100 processing fee for subsequent challenges, intended to deter frivolous objections. Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared supportive of the move to penalize frivolous book challenges during a press conference on Feb. 15. At the same time, he called the notion that Florida was banning books a hoax.
