Adverse Legislation In the States

During the recent legislative sessions, state legislators introduced a range of that would have impaired the ability of libraries, library staff, and library boards to acquire and provide diverse materials, resources, and programming to their communities. These bills have been introduced in the 2024 legislative sessions at unprecedented rates; see the adverse legislation tracker below. Most concerning are bills that would remove longstanding legal protections that shielded libraries and library workers from criminal prosecution for providing access to books and online resources to minors, or propose government mandated censorship of constitutionally protected books and materials by broadening the definition of materials deemed to be obscene or "harmful to minors." Other legislation proposed direct censorship of diverse content, while some legislators and advocacy groups supported legislation that erodes the authority of local library boards and library staff to govern the library's collection development activities or deny state and federal funding to locally governed libraries that choose to collect and retain books and other materials addressing topics and issues disfavored by politicians. These bills should be seen as part of a larger campaign to adopt state laws that advance social and cultural priorities largely associated with conservative values and politics.

Adverse Library Legislation Tracker

ALA works in partnership with state associations to assess the impact of proposed legislation, both positive and adverse, and to support the states' coordinated responses. The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only; ALA directs members to their respective state associations for specific guidance or calls to action regarding state legislative activity.

Staff in ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom and Public Policy Office are available to consult with state associations that face adverse legislation. Contact: advocacy@ala.org.