Free Expression Bills
These are just a few of the bills we’ve added to our radar in the past week. To make sure you are updated on action items when it’s time to write your representatives, sign up for our VoterVoice updates on BookWeb.
Freedom to Read Bills
New Mexico: HB 26, SB 45, and SB 65 are a suite of freedom to read bills prohibiting book bans in school, public, and higher-education libraries. These protections include prohibitions on discrimination based on identity and ideology. The Freedom to Read New Mexico Coalition will be hosting a read-in on February 4 to celebrate World Read Aloud Day to support these bills and resist book censorship. Please write to the Governor to ask her to put these bills on her legislative agenda by the end of the week!
New York: S 8630 is a robust expansion of the Freedom to Read Act, which the legislature passed last year (but the Governor vetoed). This bill meaningfully responds to concerns of vagueness that prevented the law’s enactment in 2025.
Pennsylvania: SB 1103 would proactively protect against book bans in a state where bans have been disruptive and divisive.
Virginia: SB 19 and HB 236 offer two different approaches to prohibit book bans proactively in Virginia. SB 19 takes a lighter touch and may need revision. While HB 236 is more robust, the Virginia Library Association has expressed concerns that it may overreach.
Censorship Bills
West Virginia: SB 630 contains a vaguely worded provision that could be used to prevent the display of books featuring transgender characters or themes outside of adults-only sections.
New Jersey: S 3058 would allow law enforcement to circumvent the need for a court-ordered subpoena to acquire user records from a book service if they merely assert an imminent threat.
Drag Bans
Missouri (HB 1702), South Carolina (S 733), and West Virginia (SB 47) all have bills banning or restricting drag performances in broad terms that could impact stores hosting drag storytime events.
Tariff Uncertainty Continues
Tariffs continue to shift, with potential impact on bookstores. The White House announced that the US would be increasing tariffs on goods from South Korea. Tariffs on goods from South Korea will jump back to 25% (up from 15%) according to media reports. President Trump has also threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canada due to Canada’s trade deal with China. And new tariffs that the White House had threatened on EU countries last week have been called off for now. We will continue to monitor and report on tariff changes. Visit BookWeb to see the latest tariff updates.