While the effort to restrict access to books has been getting somewhat less attention on the national stage, it remains a potent issue on the state and local level, where most decisions about schools and libraries are made.

Over the past few weeks, new laws or regulations have gone into effect in Utah, Idaho, South Carolina and Tennessee that will make it more difficult for young people to access books and library materials that could be considered obscene or harmful.

Proponents say these rules are necessary to protect children from encountering sensitive topics, like sexual content, sexual violence or graphic depictions of nudity, on their own. Detractors say these rules make it difficult for students to view a range of books, including those that reflect real world experiences and some classics with more mature themes that have long been taught in high schools.

Here’s what to know about the new state rules:

Utah

An amendment to an existing law that went into effect on July 1 aims to “identify and remove pornographic or indecent material” from school classrooms and libraries. This includes any book or other classroom or library material that includes descriptions of sex or masturbation.

Traditionally, schools have been allowed to take into consideration whether a book has artistic merit or would be otherwise valuable to students. “Beloved,” by Toni Morrison, for example, has been challenged repeatedly around the country, but is widely considered to a be masterpiece. The new law explicitly addresses this question, saying that local education agencies, which includes school boards and the governing boards of charter schools, should prioritize “protecting children from the harmful effects of illicit pornography over other considerations.”

Under the law, each local education agency must tell the state whenever it removes material from circulation. If the same material is removed by three school districts — or two school districts and five charter schools — the Utah State Board of Education will order it to be removed statewide.