STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8630 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE December 22, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "freedom to read act" The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as 2 the "freedom to read act". 3 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 414-a to 4 read as follows: 5 § 414-a. School library materials. 1. (a) Each board of education 6 shall adopt a written policy for the reconsideration of school library 7 materials. Such policy shall explain: (i) how complaints regarding 8 library materials may be submitted; (ii) who is responsible for review- 9 ing complaints; and (iii) how a final decision is made. 10 (b) A policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision 11 shall include a general timeline for the review procedure and provide 12 for the creation of a reconsideration committee to review complaints 13 regarding school library materials. Such reconsideration committee shall 14 be composed of at least one of each of the following, and each which 15 shall be affiliated with the relevant school district, and may be a 16 standing committee at the discretion of the district: (i) a certified 17 librarian or library media specialist; (ii) a teacher; (iii) a school 18 administrator; (iv) a parent; and (v) where possible, a student. 19 (c) A policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision 20 shall further provide for a final appeal to the board of education. Such 21 policy shall also provide notice on the right to file appeals to the 22 commissioner pursuant to section three hundred ten of this chapter. All 23 decisions shall follow the school district's written policies and shall 24 not be based solely on disagreement with the ideas, viewpoints, or iden- EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD14305-02-5

S. 8630 2 1 tities represented in the material. Such policy shall be made available 2 on the school district's website. 3 2. No library material shall be removed or restricted solely because 4 of disagreement with the themes, ideas, or viewpoints expressed in it or 5 because of the identities of the author, subject, or characters. Removal 6 or restriction shall comply with the school district's adopted policies 7 and the material shall not be removed from its location within the 8 library and shall remain available to reserve, check out, or access 9 while it is under review. 10 3. No library media specialist or other school employee shall face 11 disciplinary action for selecting, retaining, or recommending materials 12 in reasonable reliance on the school district's adopted policies. This 13 shall not limit the superintendent's or board of education's general 14 supervisory authority over employees, as long as such supervision is not 15 based on disagreement with the viewpoints in materials. 16 4. The commissioner, in consultation with the state librarian and 17 other stakeholders, shall promulgate regulations for the implementation 18 of this section and shall develop one or more model policies for use by 19 school districts. 20 5. School library systems, as established pursuant to section two 21 hundred eighty-two of this chapter, shall develop and make available 22 model policies for use by school districts. Such model policies may 23 include sample collection-development policies and sample reconsider- 24 ation procedures. School districts may adopt or adapt such models. 25 § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding 26 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the 27 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary 28 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized 29 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

Enacts the "freedom to read act"

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