Rebecca Dow, a House Representative from New Mexico, said that parents should express their concerns about books she deems inappropriate in public schools and libraries. She emphasized that restricting such content is necessary to protect children's innocence. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
"Parents—Wake up! Speak up," said Dow. "These books are available for your child to check out at PED schools and in NM public libraries. Your child's sexual innocence is worth fighting for. This isn't book banning — it's protecting childhood."
According to KUNM, recent debates in New Mexico regarding school and library content have focused on SB 552, known as the "Protection of School Library Materials Act." This legislation aimed to standardize review policies without banning books. Representative Dow shared a guide from Las Cruces for parents on "explicit books" but did not specify any titles. The American Library Association (ALA) data indicate that frequently challenged works like "Gender Queer" and "All Boys Aren’t Blue" are often at the center of similar disputes.
The ALA reported that there were 821 attempts to censor library materials nationwide in 2024, with 72% initiated by organized groups or public officials. The most targeted books included "All Boys Aren’t Blue," "Gender Queer," and "The Bluest Eye," primarily challenged for alleged sexual content or LGBTQ+ themes.
PEN America highlighted that states have enacted varying parental-review laws: Florida's HB 1069 was partially struck down for overreach, Utah's HB 374 restricts "sensitive materials," and Texas's HB 900—requiring book-vendor ratings—was blocked by the Fifth Circuit as unconstitutional. These legal outcomes pose risks for similar proposals.
According to the New Mexico Legislature, Representative Dow is a Republican representing District 38 (Doña Ana, Sierra, and Socorro Counties). She served from 2016–2022 and was re-elected in 2024. A former early-childhood education CEO, Dow has focused on parental rights, youth protection, and public education policy throughout her tenure.
The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) oversees K–12 standards while local districts manage library collections. NMPED's analysis of SB 552 required districts to submit library-materials policies for state review by September 2025 under NMAC 6.75.5, which governs library material selection and circulation.
