Summary

A federal judge struck down key parts of an Arkansas law (Act 372) that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing “harmful” materials to minors, deeming them unconstitutional.

The law, signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2023, sought to relocate challenged library materials to restricted areas but faced opposition from groups like the ACLU, citing censorship concerns.

Supporters argue the law protects children from obscene content, and the state plans to appeal.

Similar restrictive book laws have been passed in other conservative states.