New Jersey Enacts Law to Prevent Book Bans in Schools and Libraries

Governor Phil Murphy's legislation prohibits censorship based on content or author identity and provides legal protections for librarians.

The Freedom to Read Act, signed by Gov. Phil Murphy, bars public and school libraries from banning books based on origin, background, or viewpoints of the material or its authors.
The law requires libraries and school boards to establish clear policies for addressing book challenges and removing materials deemed developmentally inappropriate for certain age groups.
Librarians are granted legal protections against civil or criminal lawsuits related to book curation under the new legislation.
New Jersey becomes the third state, after Illinois and Minnesota, to enact a law prohibiting book bans in response to rising censorship efforts in other states.
Reports from PEN America and the American Library Association highlight a surge in book challenges, with many targeting works by LGBTQ+ authors or those addressing racial themes.