A 3119 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Enacts the "open shelves act"

Summary

Ensures that library staff of free association, public, and hospital libraries, and with certain advice, Indian libraries, are able to develop collections, services, and programming that reflect the values and protections established under the human rights law and the equal rights amendment to the state constitution.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

A3119A → A3119B · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to add new co-sponsors and advance its legislative progress by being re-reported from committee. The core policy language regarding library collection standards was modified to remove the phrase 'reflects the full diversity of perspectives, experiences, and identities' and replace it with a requirement that standards be 'consistent with the values and protections established under the human rights law and the equal rights amendment.' This shift moves the focus from a specific mandate on diversity to a broader alignment with existing state human rights protections.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding library standards was narrowed in wording by removing a specific directive on reflecting diverse identities, replacing it with a general requirement to align with human rights laws.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for libraries to adopt policies was changed from mandating that collections 'reflect the full diversity of perspectives, experiences, and identities' to requiring that such policies be 'consistent with the values and protections established under the human rights law and the equal rights amendment.'

TECHNICAL

Four new co-sponsors (Otis, Forrest, Solages, and Conrad) were added to the list of legislators introducing the bill.

TIMELINE

The bill's status was updated to reflect that it was 'again reported from said committee with amendments,' indicating it has moved forward in the legislative process after previous committee review.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

lower

Jun 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 3119B

lower

Jun 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 3119A

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

lower

1 primary · 31 co-sponsors