Relates to enacting the "books save lives act"
This bill requires public school libraries receiving state aid to maintain collections of diverse books meeting specific criteria, directly affecting schools and library systems that rely on state funding. It defines "diverse books" as those featuring characters from underrepresented communities (including racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, religious minorities, and people with disabilities) and mandates that libraries include materials written by or about these groups. The bill also requires school boards to approve any permanent removal of library materials based on educational suitability - not public pressure - and adds a new requirement that libraries must adopt the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights or create a formal policy banning book removals to continue receiving state aid. These provisions aim to ensure student access to inclusive materials while protecting libraries from politically motivated removals.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 14, 2025
Last action Jan 7, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
lower
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Phara Souffrant Forrest
DDemocratic
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