Governor Murphy Signs the Freedom to Read Act
Categories: Law Firm
As a significant step toward protecting intellectual freedom, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently signed the Freedom to Read Act bill into law, now making New Jersey the third state to enact on book bans. This new legislation aims to protect the rights of individuals, educators, and libraries in New Jersey from censorship, ensuring access to a broad range of reading materials. Furthermore, under this law, public and school libraries are barred from excluding books because of the origin, background, or views of the material or of its authors.
What is the Freedom to Read Act?
The Freedom to Read Act is designed to prevent censorship and the removal of books from public school, libraries, and other educational institutions. Under this new law, it becomes more difficult for entities to ban or restrict books solely based on their content. This law emphasizes the importance of protecting intellectual freedom and ensuring that students and residents of New Jersey have access to diverse viewpoints.
It is important to note that this law does not prohibit discussions about controversial or sensitive topics, but instead, it seeks to ensure that access to literature is not suppressed by political pressure or biased agendas.
Key Provisions of the Freedom to Read Act
- Protection from Book Bans: This law explicitly prohibits the removal or restriction of books from schools or libraries unless there is a compelling legal or safety reason.
- Due Process for Challenges: If a book is in question for removal, the law establishes a formal process for reviewing and deciding the matter. This certifies that the decision is handled fairly and without the influence from outside political or ideological forces.
- Support for Public Libraries and Educators: Schools and libraries are permitted to resist external pressure to ban books, and the law helps ensure that institutions like these remain unbiased.
Why is it important?
In recent years, various states and school districts have seen increasing efforts to restrict access to books addressing issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, and other controversial societal topics. Unfortunately, these efforts often come at the expense of intellectual freedom, limiting students and the public’s access to diverse perspectives. By signing this bill into law, it affirms New Jersey’s commitment to protecting the right of individuals to explore different viewpoints and allows the pubic to have access to materials that challenge their thinking or broaden their understanding of the world.
At Pasricha & Patel, LLC, we recognize the significance of this legislation and its impact on our community. As legal professionals, we are dedicated to advocating for the protection of rights, including the freedom to read and learn without fear of censorship. We encourage individuals to familiarize themselves with the Freedom to Read Act and to seek legal counsel if they believe their rights have been violated in any way related to this important law.
For more information or to discuss how this law may impact you or your institution, please contact us today.