Anti-Book Ban Bill Passed By CA State Senate

REDONDO BEACH, CA — The California Freedom to Read Act is on its way to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk after the State Senate passed the bill last month.

The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Al Murtasuchi (D-Torrance), would prohibit public libraries from banning books or other materials because of the topics, views, ideas or opinions contained in them or in a manner that is discriminatory.

Assembly Bill 1825 will also require public libraries to develop a collection development policy, which includes how the public can challenge library materials.

"I am thankful to the members of the Legislature for passing my AB 1825. Our freedom to read is a cornerstone of our democracy, and we need to defend the right of Californians to have access to books that offer diverse perspectives," said Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi. "Unfortunately, there is a growing movement to ban books nationwide, including in California. This is especially true for books containing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQ and communities of color."

According to data from the American Library Association, the number of reported book challenges reached an all-time high from 2022 to 2023, increasing by 65 percent. The number of book titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92 percent over the previous year, officials said.

School libraries saw an 11 percent increase in book challenges over 2022. Books containing subject matter on LGBTQ+ and communities of color made up 47 percent of targeted censorship attempts.