Bill guards against political bias in library decisions, protects librarians from reprisals
(BOSTON—11/13/2025) The Massachusetts Senate today took action to protect freedom of thought in Massachusetts schools and public libraries and safeguard open access to books and other educational materials as part of its Response 2025 initiative to respond to federal threats. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy which is tasked with leading the Response 2025 initiative, voted in support of the measure.
As school libraries are increasingly faced with politically-charged debates over banning access to particular library books, the bill—An Act regarding free expression, S.2696—creates clear guidelines for how schools and libraries decide which books to make available, and how local leaders determine whether a book is appropriate or should be removed from the shelf.
The legislation requires that school library materials be age-appropriate, serve an educational purpose, and be chosen based on a teacher or employee’s professional training—leaving aside personal, political, or doctrinal views which could affect their decision to place the book on the shelf.
“The right to free expression is the cornerstone to a free society, and this bill protects librarians, authors and creators across the Commonwealth and their ability to do their jobs and share their ideas,” said Senator Friedman. “I’m proud of the Senate for once again taking action on a bill identified by the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy as a Response 2025 initiative. Together as a body, the Senate will continue to pass policies that defend the values we hold dear in Massachusetts.”
Local school districts and municipal public libraries would have the flexibility to craft their own policies that align with state protocols and the standards of the American Library Association. For school libraries, an appropriate process for considering whether to remove a book would include assurance that a challenged book remains available to library patrons while the process plays out, guarding against frivolous or unfounded complaints.
The bill would protect librarians and school employees from retaliation over their selection of library books, ensuring that they do not suffer professional, civil, or criminal penalties if they have acted in good faith and followed their library materials policy. To help the state track challenges to books in libraries around the state, the bill also calls for data on such proceedings to be compiled annually and filed with the Legislature.
During the course of today’s debate, Senators voted on a 37-0 roll call to add language to the bill (Amendment 4) strengthening the voice of authors to make their work available to the public. As amended, the bill now gives book authors and creators the right to challenge their book’s removal from a school library in court.
The legislation was advanced by a 17-0 vote of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on November 6, 2025, following a 6-0 vote and favorable report from the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development on August 14, 2025.
The Senate voted 35-3 to approve the bill and send it to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
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