Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Wednesday he wants Texas public schools that keep books he calls vulgar on library shelves to lose a letter grade on the state’s A-F accountability ratings.
Patrick spoke at a Texas Capitol news conference in Austin. According to the Texas Tribune and The Dallas Morning News, he told superintendents, “We’re coming for the books,” and asked districts to remove the titles on their own.
He said the problem is not a statewide book ban. “We’re not banning books. There are no books banned in America. You can buy any book you want,” Patrick said, according to KXAN. “But we do not take taxpayer money and buy these books for our schools.”
Today, I held a press conference with Bonnie Wallace, a true fighter for Texas children.
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) August 19, 2026
There is a real problem with dirty books in our public school libraries in Texas. We passed SB 13 to fix it, but school districts across the state aren't following the law.
This next… pic.twitter.com/r9RFJzEdsA
Patrick displayed several titles he said remain in some school libraries, including Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan, Boy Toy by Barry Lyga, Crank by Ellen Hopkins and Push by Sapphire. The Houston Chronicle reported he said those books are not allowed in Texas prisons.
He estimated more than 2,000 titles fall into the category he described as dirty or sexually explicit. He was joined by conservative activist Bonnie Wallace, who has compiled a list of about 2,198 titles. The Houston Chronicle reported that list includes frequently challenged books such as The Handmaid’s Tale, The Color Purple and The Kite Runner.
Bonnie Wallace, who serves as legislative liaison for Recover America, has compiled what she calls a “dirty book list” of about 2,198 titles, rated 1 to 5 for sexual content. She told the news conference that parents can download the list and take it to their school boards. The list is posted on Recover America’s website here.
The legal backdrop is Senate Bill 13, passed in 2025 and authored by Sen. Angela Paxton. The Texas Tribune reports the law lets school boards review and remove library materials after complaints. Patrick said many districts have not followed it. FOX 7 Austin reported he claimed about 80% of districts are out of compliance.
Patrick said lawmakers next session should require the Texas Education Agency to drop a campus one letter grade if even one prohibited book remains. He also mentioned possible funding consequences but did not detail a funding mechanism, according to The Dallas Morning News. A single failing rating does not trigger an immediate state takeover. State law generally requires consecutive failing years before TEA can close a campus or replace a board.
Patrick is running for reelection against Democrat Vikki Goodwin. Democrats and library advocates say the push threatens local control and access to books, including titles written for teens.
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