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Sep. 8, 2025

Huntington Beach book restrictions void, judge rules

The ruling is the first significant interpretation of California's Free to Read Act, which bars library book restrictions based solely on age or sexual content unless the material is obscene.

An Orange County Superior Court judge Friday blocked the City of Huntington Beach from implementing library book restrictions that opponents argued violated state law and constitutional rights.

Judge Lindsey E. Martinez overruled the city's demurrer and granted a writ of mandate compelling compliance with the FTRA. The 2023 statute prohibits library jurisdictions from restricting access to books solely because of sexual content unless the material qualifies as obscene under fe...

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