Bill > S08116

This bill requires publicly funded libraries and school districts in New York to either adopt the American Library Association's (ALA) library bill of rights or develop a written statement prohibiting the practice of banning books based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval. Specifically, the bill amends the state education law to mandate that any free association library, public library, hospital library, Indian library, library system, school district, or board of education that receives state funding must ensure that library materials are not removed or proscribed solely because of ideological or political disagreement. The ALA library bill of rights is a set of guidelines that promotes intellectual freedom and opposes the censorship of library materials. Under this legislation, libraries and school libraries that fail to comply with these requirements would be ineligible for state funding. The bill aims to protect access to diverse reading materials and prevent the suppression of ideas in public and school libraries by ensuring that book removal decisions are not based on narrow partisan or doctrinal perspectives. The act will take effect 30 days after becoming law.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8116