Missouri school and library book laws
Missouri’s 2022 “explicit sexual material to a student” crime was permanently enjoined in November 2025. It is not current law.
Missouri SB 775 created § 573.550, a Class A misdemeanor for providing explicit sexual material to a student. It drove large-scale school-library removals. On November 17, 2025, a Jackson County Circuit Court permanently enjoined it as vague and overbroad under the Missouri Constitution. 2026 follow-on bills (SB 1123 / SB 1280) did not pass. Do not treat SB 775 as enforceable. Historical demand for sexual-content screening remains; BookLooky still refuses ban-tool use.
SB 775 § 573.550 was permanently enjoined on November 17, 2025. Do not treat it as current enforceable law.
Not legal advice. Confirm the enrolled text and any injunction before changing policy. LRS is informational and must not be the sole basis for removing books.
Bills and rules
| Measure | Year | Status | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 775 Providing explicit sexual material to a student Class A misdemeanor for providing explicit sexual material to a student. Permanently enjoined November 17, 2025 as vague and overbroad. | 2022 | Struck down | School libraries |
How BookLooky LRS addresses the concern
- Districts that still want parent-facing content clarity can use LRS without a criminal statute hanging over staff.
- LRS must not be used as the sole basis for removing books — especially in a state where the criminal library statute was struck down.
Story theme scores (including LGBTQ+ representation) measure presence in the plot. They are not warnings and are not a lawful stand-in for “harmful to minors.”