S6350B

The New York State Senate passed legislation (S6350B) empowering school librarians to curate collections with developmentally appropriate materials for students, with a 53-4 vote on the noncontroversial calendar. The bill codifies current practice by placing responsibility on trained professional librarians to select materials while following school board policies. Sponsor Sen. May argued that librarians serve a public educational function and that the broad majority of parents support diverse reading opportunities in school libraries. She cited concerns about school board meetings being "hijacked by a few vocal people" pushing "extreme political agendas." However, Sen. Murray opposed the measure, arguing that parents should have greater input into material selection and comparing the issue to film rating systems that restrict rather than ban content. Murray contended that school libraries serve children exclusively and that a collaborative system involving parents, school boards, and librarians would be preferable to giving sole discretion to librarians. Sen. Martins supported the bill, expressing confidence in professional judgment while noting that school boards elected by local voters remain accountable to community preferences. Four senators voted against the measure: Borrello, Murray, O'Mara, and Ortt.

The Senate passed S6350B, an act to amend the Education Law, on a roll call vote of 61-1. Sponsored by Senator May, the bill advanced with minimal opposition, with only Sen. Ortt voting in the negative. The measure includes an immediate effective date. No floor debate was recorded on the legislation.

The New York State Senate passed the Freedom to Read Act, legislation designed to protect school library collections from removal challenges. Sen. May, the bill's sponsor, argued that book banning disproportionately targets works by and about people of color and LGBTQ individuals, citing nearly 1,500 banning incidents nationally in the last six months of 2022. She contended that diverse library materials are essential for student literacy and academic success, and that exposure to challenging topics helps children confront and learn to address racism and discrimination. The bill passed on a voice vote, with Sen. May voting in the affirmative.