Education

Requires each board of education to adopt a written policy for reconsideration of school library materials and make such policy available on its website; requires such policies to include provisions for the creation of a reconsideration committee to review complaints regarding school library materials; requires the commissioner of education to develop one or more model policies for school districts.

Enacts the "freedom to read act"; requires the commissioner of education and school library systems to develop policies to ensure that school libraries and library staff are empowered to curate and develop collections that provide students with access to the widest array of developmentally appropriate materials available.

This bill extends Monroe County's existing authority to impose an additional 1% sales and compensating use tax (on top of the current 3% rate) until November 30, 2027. The revenue from this tax will be distributed as follows: 5% to school districts outside Rochester, 3% to towns, 1.25% to villages, and 93.75% to the city of Rochester and Monroe County (with the county portion funding county operations). Distribution formulas are based on school enrollment for districts and population ratios for towns and villages, as defined in existing tax law. The extension covers the period from December 1, 2025, through November 30, 2027.