The New Mexico Senate Education Committee just made one thing clear: Parents don’t matter.
During the recent hearing on SB 552, the Protection of School Library Materials Act, many concerned citizens tried to voice their opposition. They followed the correct procedure—raising their hands on Zoom—only to have the moderator repeatedly lower their hands and block them from speaking.
This wasn’t an accident. It was a deliberate effort to silence public opposition and push this bill forward without debate. When lawmakers suppress voices that disagree with them, they are not governing—they are dictating.
Supporters claim this bill protects librarians. In reality, it strips parents of their right to challenge the books their children are exposed to in school.
The sponsors of the bill say parents can challenge books. What they don’t tell you is that each book can only be challenged once every two years. Parents can raise concerns about multiple books, but if a school decides to keep a book in the library, that decision is locked in for two years—no matter how many new concerns arise. Even if a book is later found to be inappropriate, parents must wait two full years before it can be reconsidered. That’s not a fair review process—it’s a deliberate roadblock designed to limit parental influence.
They also say school boards will make the final decision. But what they don’t tell you is that this bill ties school boards’ hands, forcing them to follow a legal mandate instead of using their own judgment. Even if parents present a well-reasoned case, school boards won’t have the power to remove harmful materials.
Even worse, this bill protects controversial, ideologically driven books—including some with pornographic content—while offering no protections for faith-based or conservative books. It’s not about fairness. It’s about control.
As bad as the bill is, the way the committee handled the hearing was worse.
Public testimony is supposed to be fair and open to everyone. Yet during this hearing, only supporters of the bill were allowed to speak. Opponents—who followed all the rules—were denied the right to be heard.
The committee chair sat by while the moderator repeatedly lowered the hands of people who wanted to speak against the bill. These were parents, teachers, and concerned citizens who took the time to engage in the process—only to be shut out.
This wasn’t a technical problem. It was intentional suppression.
If this bill is truly fair, why are legislators afraid to hear from parents? If this bill really benefits children, why silence the very people who care most about them? They don’t want a debate—they just want compliance.
This is not how democracy works. Every voice deserves to be heard. When lawmakers manipulate the process to silence opposition, they betray the trust of the people.
The Education Committee must admit what happened and explain how they will prevent it from happening again. The public deserves an answer.
They must commit to transparency and fairness and ensure that all citizens—no matter their views—are allowed to speak in future hearings.
Parents deserve a voice in the decisions that shape their children’s education. They should not be shut out, ignored, or silenced.
This isn’t just about school library books. It’s about who gets to decide what values our children are taught.
If parents don’t speak up now, they may lose their voice entirely.
The people of New Mexico must demand transparency, fairness, and the right to be heard.
Because when lawmakers silence New Mexicans, they aren’t just passing bad laws—they are taking away our rights.
Jodi Hendricks is the executive director of the New Mexico Family Action Movement.
