BOISE, Idaho — An Idaho bill opening libraries to lawsuits for distributing material considered “harmful” stumbled before clearing its final hurdle.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Wednesday vetoed House Bill 314. The legislation would have allowed the guardian of a child who was able to obtain “harmful” material from a library to claim $2,500 in statutory damages for each instance the material was obtained.
Little wrote in a letter to lawmakers that “the ability to read is fundamental to a child’s success,” and he was concerned “ambiguity” in the bill language would have “unintended consequences” for libraries and their patrons.
