New York legislation · 2025-2026 General Assembly
New York A7353: Protects the independence of libraries and shields librarians from civil and criminal liability for certain actions
Status: In committee, June 4, 2026
Protects the independence of libraries; shields librarians from civil and criminal liability for certain actions.
What the bill says
An act to amend the education law, in relation to protecting the independence of libraries and shielding librarians from civil and criminal liability for certain actions.
From the amended text, May 14, 2026:
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to protecting the independence of libraries and shielding librarians from civil and criminal liability for certain actions THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "protecting libraries' independence act". § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 286 to read as follows: § 286. PROTECTING LIBRARIES' INDEPENDENCE. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS: (A) "LIBRARY MATERIAL" MEANS BOOKS, VIDEOS, SUBSCRIPTION OR LOCALLY CURATED DATABASES, NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES AND OTHER SUCH PERIODICALS, CHARTS, GRAPHS, MOVIES, GAMES, MAPS, INTERACTIVE APPLICATIONS AND SOFTWARE, AND OTHER SUCH ENRICHMENT OR ENTERTAINMENT MATERIALS IN ANY PRINTED OR ELECTRONIC FORMAT, INCLUSIVE OF FICTION AND NON-FICTION BELONGING TO, ON LOAN TO, OR OTHERWISE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. (B) "LIBRARIAN" MEANS AN EMPLOYEE OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY OR SOMEONE WORKING ON A PUBLIC LIBRARY'S BEHALF THROUGH A CONSULTING AGREEMENT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PURCHASE, SELECTION, CURATION, REMOVAL, AND DISPLAY OF LIBRARY MATERIALS. (C) "PUBLIC LIBRARY" MEANS EVERY FREE ASSOCIATION, PUBLIC AND HOSPITAL LIBRARY OR, WITH THE ADVICE OF THE APPROPRIATE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT AND LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, INDIAN LIBRARY WHICH RECEIVES ANY …
Sponsors
- Carroll, Robert C. (D, 44) · primary sponsor
- Linda Rosenthal (D, 67)
- William Magnarelli (D, 129)
- Steven Otis (D, 91)
- Larinda Hooks (D, 35)
Latest actions
- : ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.486
- : RULES REPORT CAL.486
- : REPORTED
- : REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
- : REFERENCE CHANGED TO WAYS AND MEANS
- : REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
- : PRINT NUMBER 7353B
- : AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
- : PRINT NUMBER 7353A
- : AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Votes
- Assembly Ways And Means Committee: Favorable refer to committee Rules (June 4, 2026): 23 yea, 9 nay, passed
- Assembly Rules Committee: Favorable (June 4, 2026): 21 yea, 7 nay, passed
- Assembly Libraries And Education Technology Committee: Favorable refer to committee Codes (May 18, 2026): 6 yea, 2 nay, passed
Subjects: Education Law
Common questions
- What is A7353?
- A7353 is a bill in the New York Legislature (2025-2026 General Assembly): Protects the independence of libraries and shields librarians from civil and criminal liability for certain actions.
- What does A7353 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the education law, in relation to protecting the independence of libraries and shielding librarians from civil and criminal liability for certain actions.
- What is the status of A7353?
- In committee as of June 4, 2026. Latest action: ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.486 (June 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored A7353?
- Carroll, Robert C. (D, 44), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for A7353?
- On the New York Legislature website: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7353
Source: official New York record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.