The Texas State Library and Archives Commission will meet Friday with an agenda that includes proposed changes to the state’s library-sharing program, discussion of an ongoing legal challenge to Texas’ school library book-rating law, and a closed-session item involving a records seizure case.
Commissioners are scheduled to meet in executive session to consult with legal counsel on two pending legal matters. One concerns the state’s appeal of a federal ruling that permanently blocked a 2023 law requiring book vendors to assign content ratings to books sold to public schools. The other involves a records seizure proceeding under state law, which allows the state librarian to seek the return of public records believed to be improperly held by private parties and, if necessary, ask the attorney general to pursue legal action. The agenda does not identify the records involved or the parties in the case.
The book-rating law required vendors to classify books as either “sexually explicit” or “sexually relevant” before selling them to public schools. The law also directed the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to establish standards for those ratings and authorized the education commissioner to override vendor classifications.
Booksellers and publishers challenged the law in federal court. In January 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld an injunction blocking enforcement against the education commissioner while dismissing claims against commission Chair Martha Wong and then-State Board of Education Chair Kevin Ellis. In October 2025, a federal judge permanently blocked the rating requirements, ruling they violated the First Amendment by compelling speech and were unconstitutionally vague. Texas has appealed that decision.
Commissioners also are expected to vote on publishing proposed amendments to the TexShare administrative rules for public comment. The changes would add provisions governing program fees for the statewide resource-sharing network. Current rules authorize the state librarian to establish fees but do not include fee provisions in the administrative code. No proposed fee schedule has been released, and Friday’s action would begin the public comment process rather than adopt final rules.
The commission also will consider three additional rule proposals for publication and a commemorative resolution recognizing Commissioner Brad Tegeler.
Federal library funding could remain a topic of interest as Congress considers appropriations for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which distributes library grants to states. Texas received approximately $12.8 million through the program this year. Funding for the agency has faced repeated proposals for elimination, although it continues to operate while Congress considers fiscal year 2027 appropriations.
Meeting Details
When: 8:30 a.m. CT Friday, July 31, 2026
Where: Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building, 1201 Brazos Street, Austin 78701.
Governing body: Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Format: In person and by videoconference
Live video: Zoom webinar: us02web.zoom.us/j/85940795411. Listen-only by phone at +1 346 248 7799, Webinar ID 859 4079 5411.
Full agenda: Secretary of State Open Meeting Viewer · TSLAC 2026 commission agendas · Agendas and minutes index
Commission Members
- Martha Wong, Houston, chair. Named in the book-rating case; claims dismissed 2024.
- Darryl Tocker — vice chair. Term expires September 2029.
- David Iglesias — chairs the Archives and Records Committee. Term expires 2027.
- Arthur “Art” T. Mann — term expires September 2029.
- Nancy Painter Paup — term expires September 2027.
- Monte L. Monroe, Lubbock — retired Texas Tech archivist, appointed March 2026.
- Norma C. “Leslie” Recine, Pantego — appointed March 2026; term expires 2031.
Roster: About Our Commission — the agency’s page still lists the two members replaced in March 2026; the new appointments are confirmed in the Texas Register. Agency head: Gloria Meraz, Director and Librarian.