New York legislation · 2025-2026 General Assembly
New York A9537: Enacts the "freedom to read act"
Status: In committee, June 4, 2026
Requires each board of education to adopt a written policy for reconsideration of school library materials and make such policy available on its website; requires such policies to include provisions for the creation of a reconsideration committee to review complaints regarding school library materials; requires the commissioner of education to develop one or more model policies for school districts.
What the bill says
An act to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "freedom to read act".
From the amended text, May 7, 2026:
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "freedom to read act" THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "freedom to read act". § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 414-a to read as follows: § 414-A. SCHOOL LIBRARY MATERIALS. 1. (A) EACH BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL ADOPT A WRITTEN POLICY FOR THE RECONSIDERATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARY MATERIALS AND SHALL MAKE SUCH POLICY AVAILABLE ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S WEBSITE. SUCH POLICY SHALL INCLUDE AT A MINIMUM, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO: (I) PROCEDURES FOR HOW COMPLAINTS REGARDING LIBRARY MATERIALS MAY BE SUBMITTED; (II) A TIMELINE FOR THE REVIEW OF A CHALLENGED LIBRARY MATERIAL; (III) PROVISIONS FOR THE CREATION OF A RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS REGARDING SCHOOL LIBRARY MATERIALS; (IV) PROCEDURES OUTLINING THE REVIEW PROCESS FOR A CHALLENGED LIBRARY MATERIAL, CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION; (V) PROCEDURES FOR REMOVING OR RESTRICTING LIBRARY MATERIALS FOLLOWING A FINAL DECISION BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT SUCH LIBRARY MATERIALS SHOULD BE REMOVED OR RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN GRADE LEVELS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE REMOVAL OR RESTRICTION RECOMMENDATION OF A RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE; …
Sponsors
- Tony Simone (D, 75) · primary sponsor
- Amy Paulin (D, 88)
- Thomas Schiavoni (D, 1)
- Phillip Steck (D, 110)
- Maryjane Shimsky (D, 92)
- Carroll, Robert C. (D, 44)
- Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas (D, 34)
- Jeffrey Dinowitz (D, 81)
- Grace Lee (D, 65)
- Jordan Wright (D, 70)
- Jo Simon (D, 52)
- Rebecca Seawright (D, 76)
Latest actions
- : SUBSTITUTED BY S8630C
- : ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.498
- : RULES REPORT CAL.498
- : REPORTED
- : REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
- : REFERENCE CHANGED TO WAYS AND MEANS
- : PRINT NUMBER 9537B
- : AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO EDUCATION
- : PRINT NUMBER 9537A
- : AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO EDUCATION
Votes
- Assembly Ways And Means Committee: Favorable refer to committee Rules (June 4, 2026): 22 yea, 10 nay, passed
- Assembly Rules Committee: Favorable (June 4, 2026): 28 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Education Law
Common questions
- What is A9537?
- A9537 is a bill in the New York Legislature (2025-2026 General Assembly): Enacts the "freedom to read act".
- What does A9537 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "freedom to read act".
- What is the status of A9537?
- In committee as of June 4, 2026. Latest action: SUBSTITUTED BY S8630C (June 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored A9537?
- Tony Simone (D, 75), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for A9537?
- On the New York Legislature website: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9537
Source: official New York record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.