Utah has added two more titles—A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard and A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin—to its statewide list of books prohibited in public schools, bringing the total to 34. This follows the addition of four books just 10 days ago and continues the rapid expansion under House Bill 29.
This week's update to Utah's banned books list for public schools adds two titles, increasing the statewide total to 34. The bans are triggered by House Bill 29 (2024, effective July 1, 2024), which mandates removal of books classified as 'objective sensitive material' or 'pornographic' by thresholds met in multiple districts or charter schools.
Bans have accelerated, with 15 titles added statewide since January 2026—surpassing the 14 from the law's first year. Nine districts account for all bans, led by Davis (33), Washington (29), Jordan (14), and Tooele (10). Schools report removals to the State Board of Education, prompting statewide action.
A lawsuit challenging the law was filed in February, but the process continues with ongoing reviews. The full list features authors like Sarah J. Maas, Ellen Hopkins, Margaret Atwood, and others, averaging a 2006 publication date. Utah holds the nation's longest state-sanctioned list, ahead of South Carolina's 21. Districts retain power for additional local bans.
