On June 30, 2025, Governor DeWine vetoed a provision in the state budget bill (HB 96, ORC Section 3375.47) that would have required libraries to "place material related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in a portion of the public library that is not primarily open to the view of persons under the age of eighteen." (source)
In the message accompanying the vetoes, DeWine said the line-item “would place vague restrictions on public libraries in an effort to regulate placement of certain material within a public general circulation library.”
“In Ohio, we have strong laws on obscenity and material harmful to juveniles, and the DeWine-Tressel Administration expects those laws to be enforced,” the veto message stated.
“Ohio’s public libraries already have policies in place to protect children,” shared Michelle Francis, Executive Director of the Ohio Library Council. “No one cares more about the safety, education, and well-being of children than libraries. For generations, libraries have provided trusted, welcoming spaces, and we will continue to do so with professionalism and integrity.”
Thank you for standing with the Westerville Public Library and taking action to protect access to information in Ohio’s libraries. This is a significant win for intellectual freedom and the right of every Ohioan to freely access information at their library. We remain committed to keeping our libraries open, welcoming, and responsive to the needs of our community.
With gratitude,
Erin Francoeur
Executive Director, Westerville Public Library