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SB 1271 Connecticut Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

SB 1271 requires all school districts to adopt three specific policies for school libraries: collection development (ensuring diverse materials accessible to all students), display and program guidelines (promoting free expression), and a reconsideration process for challenging materials. The bill prohibits removing library materials, displays, or programs based on the creator's background, viewpoint, or protected characteristics like race, gender, or religion. Only removals for legitimate educational reasons (e.g., outdated content or lack of relevance) or following professionally accepted collection standards are permitted. This directly affects school boards, librarians, and parents/students who may request material reviews under the new process.
Issues: ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires diverse library materials and prohibits removal based on protected characteristics, enhancing educational access and free expression in K-12 schools.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 6, 2025 Last action Mar 25, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → KID Joint Favorable Substitute · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was converted from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' with significant substantive changes to library policy requirements. The Library Working Group timeline was shortened from March 2026 to 'from passage,' and the reconsideration process was narrowed to only parents/guardians and eligible students rather than any 'individual with a vested interest.'
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on Connecticut school library policies, but the definition of who can challenge library materials was narrowed, and the implementation timeline was accelerated.
TIMELINE

The Library Working Group deadline changed from March 1, 2026 to 'from passage,' accelerating the creation of model policies.

ELIGIBILITY

The definition of 'individual with a vested interest' was changed to limit reconsideration requests to parents, guardians, and currently enrolled students only, removing broader stakeholder participation.

REQUIREMENT

The reconsideration process now explicitly prohibits favoring or disfavoring groups based on protected characteristics like race, religion, or sexual orientation.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'individual with a vested interest' was modified to reference subsection (e) of the section rather than the original broader definition.

TECHNICAL

The bill number designation changed from 'Raised Bill' to 'Substitute Bill' reflecting its status in the legislative process.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Committee on Children
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.