The number of book bans in the United States nearly tripled during the 2023-2024 school year, according to a new study — and Texas was at the forefront of yanking titles from shelves. With 538 book bans enacted from June 2023 through June 2024, the Lone Star State accounted for the third-largest number of bans during that time period, free expression group PEN America reports. Only Florida, with 4,561 bans, and Iowa, with 3,671, enacted more.