summary
Introduced
12/17/2025
12/17/2025
In Committee
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Creates the School Book Rating and Transparency Act. Requires a publisher supplying books to a public or nonpublic school, including a charter school, or a school-sponsored book fair to assign a content rating to each book and provide that content rating. Provides that each school shall ensure that the content rating is displayed in at least one of the following locations: (1) the school library's online catalog entry; (2) the school library's website; (3) the classroom library's catalog or posted list; (4) printed or digital reading lists distributed to students; or (5) signage or catalogs displayed at a school-sponsored book fair. Requires the State Board of Education to develop and publish a one-page rating key, and requires a school to make the rating key available. Provides that no teacher, school librarian, school administrator, or school district employee is subject to liability, discipline, or adverse employment action for relying in good faith on publisher-provided content ratings. Requires the State Board to submit an annual report to the General Assembly containing an assessment of publisher compliance and any recommendations for system improvements. Authorizes the State Board to adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Amends the School Code to make a related change. Effective July 1, 2026.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the School Book Rating and Transparency Act, which requires book publishers to assign content ratings to books used in schools, including a specific age band (ranging from "Everyone" to "18+ or Mature") and content flags for sensitive topics like sexual content, violence, drug use, and strong language. Publishers must provide these ratings to schools and book fair vendors, using objective criteria. Schools must display these ratings in at least one location such as online catalogs, library websites, or reading lists. The State Board of Education will develop a one-page rating key explaining the rating system, which schools must make publicly available. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that its purpose is to provide information, not to ban or censor books, and it protects educators from adverse employment actions for relying on these ratings. The bill applies to books acquired after its effective date in school libraries, classroom libraries, reading lists, and school-sponsored book fairs. The State Board of Education will submit an annual report assessing publisher compliance and may adopt rules to implement the Act. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2026, and also makes a related amendment to the School Code to include this new Act in the list of requirements for charter schools.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee (on 01/14/2026)
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