Governor Murphy Enacts Freedom to Read Act, Ensuring Open Access to Library Materials

New Jersey’s new legislation safeguards the rights of students, parents, and communities to access age-appropriate books, barring arbitrary bans on diverse viewpoints.

NEW JERSEY - Governor Phil Murphy signed into law A3446/S2421, known as the Freedom to Read Act, at the Princeton Public Library. The measure, enacted today, aims to protect intellectual freedom and uphold the public’s right to free and unrestricted access to books and learning materials at schools and public libraries throughout New Jersey.

“The Freedom to Read Act cements New Jersey’s role on the forefront of preventing book bans and protecting the intellectual freedom of our educators and students. Across the nation, we have seen attempts to suppress and censor the stories and experiences of others. I’m proud to amplify the voices of our past and present, as there is no better way for our children to prepare for the future than to read freely,” said Governor Murphy.

Under the new law, local school boards and public library governing bodies must adopt policies detailing how materials are selected, as well as a system of review for requests to remove certain items. Support in shaping these policies will come from the Department of Education, the State Librarian, the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, and the New Jersey School Boards Association.

The Freedom to Read Act also strengthens legal protections for library staff, shielding them from civil and criminal lawsuits for complying with the statute. It prevents boards of education and public library boards from excluding items due to their origin, background, or viewpoint and from censoring books solely because an individual might find their content objectionable. Additionally, the law allows for restricting developmentally inappropriate material to ensure that age-appropriate access is maintained.

“The freedom to read and to freely access information is an essential part of a quality education and a core component of our democracy,” said Senate President Nick Scutari. “This law will help New Jersey libraries guard against politically-inspired censorship and protect librarians from harassment for simply doing their job. I commend Senator Zwicker and Senate Majority Leader Ruiz for their principled commitment to this issue.”

The legislation’s primary sponsors include Senator Andrew Zwicker, Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, Assemblywoman Mitchelle Drulis, Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter, and Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr.