New York Senate Bill S10145

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/30/26
• Refer: 4/30/26

Caption

Provides that publicly funded libraries may not ban books because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval; directs school districts to adopt the ALA library bill of rights.

Summary

S10145 would amend the Education Law to require certain publicly funded libraries in New York to either adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights or, as an alternative, adopt a written policy prohibiting book banning and the removal of materials based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval. The requirement would apply to free association libraries, public libraries, hospital libraries, Indian libraries, and library systems that receive state appropriations, as well as to school districts and other school governing bodies that receive aid for school library materials. The bill is aimed at preventing censorship in libraries and school libraries by making anti-banning policies a condition of receiving state support. It would also direct school districts, boards of education, trustees, and similar officials to adopt the ALA’s standards or an equivalent written prohibition on banning books or other materials. The act would take effect 30 days after becoming law.

Impact

The bill would add new statutory requirements to Education Law sections 254 and 711, tying state aid for libraries and school library materials to compliance with anti-book-banning policies. Libraries and school districts that receive state funding would need to formalize policies protecting materials from removal based on ideological disagreement, and failure to comply could affect eligibility for state appropriations or related support. The measure would therefore affect public libraries, school libraries, hospital libraries, Indian libraries, and library systems across the state.

Sentiment

Based on the bill’s caption and text, the measure appears to be framed positively as a library freedom and anti-censorship bill, with no recorded committee debate or votes available in the provided materials. The overall sentiment in the available record is therefore one of support for protecting access to materials and limiting censorship, though the absence of transcripts means no direct opposition or endorsement is documented here.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely to be whether state-funded libraries and school districts should be required to adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights or a comparable anti-banning policy as a condition of receiving aid. Supporters would view the bill as protecting intellectual freedom and preventing partisan or doctrinal censorship, while critics may argue it limits local control over library collections and school materials or forces institutions to adopt a particular policy framework. No specific stakeholder objections are recorded in the provided history.