SJ 251 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Public school libraries; JLARC to study removal of books.

Summary
Study; JLARC; public school libraries; removal of certain books; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study the removal of books from public school libraries in the Commonwealth between July 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024, on the basis of such books containing sexually explicit content or other content deemed objectionable for the purpose of identifying each book removed and, for each book removed, (i) the purported reason for its removal, (ii) the processes and procedures by which each book was identified as containing content necessitating its removal and for removing each book, and (iii) whether applicable state law directing the Department of Education to adopt model policies and each school board to adopt policies consistent with such model policies was used by any school division to justify the identification, removal, or process and procedures by which each book was identified or removed. The bill requires JLARC to complete its meetings by August 1, 2025, and directs the chairman to submit an executive summary of its findings and recommendations by October 1, 2025.
Bill status passed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Dec 31, 2024 Last action Feb 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was finalized for signing by removing bracketed text that indicated unresolved debates between Senate and House versions. The most significant substantive change is the removal of a specific end date (December 31, 2024) for the study, expanding the scope to cover all book removals after July 1, 2020. This ensures the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission will investigate the full range of removals without an arbitrary cutoff.
Scope change
The study period is now indefinite (ending only when the commission finishes), rather than limited to a specific date range.
TIMELINE

Removed the specific end date of December 31, 2024 from the study period, allowing the commission to review all removals occurring after July 1, 2020.

TECHNICAL

Removed bracketed text indicating conflicting versions between the Senate and House, finalizing the bill language for the Governor's signature.

Removed the bracketed word 'school' from the description of librarians, as the House version did not include it, standardizing the text.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 27, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2025

How they voted

380
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
Jan 27, 2025
D Democratic21
20 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
18 Yea 1
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
6
Committee
4
Amendments
3
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ251ER)
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Rules with substitute (14-Y 4-N)
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Rules
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Agreed to by Senate by voice vote
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Rules Amendments agreed to
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Introduced
Reading of amendments waived
upper
Jan 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Jan 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Rules with amendments (Voice Vote)
upper
Dec 31, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on Rules
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors