Illinois Becomes First State to Outlaw Book Bans, Protecting Freedom to Read Without Censorship

Illinois has become the first state in the United States to outlaw book bans, after Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law on Monday. The new law will take effect on January 1, 2024, and will cut off state funding for any public library that attempts to restrict or ban materials based on “partisan or doctrinal” disapproval.

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who is also the state librarian, was the driving force behind the legislation. Giannoulias said that the law does not mean that every book must be in every library, but rather that libraries should not be able to restrict access to books based on their own political or religious beliefs.

The new law comes as states across the country are pushing to remove certain books from schools and libraries that are deemed offensive. This law will ensure that public libraries in Illinois are not able to restrict access to books based on their own personal beliefs.

The bill was passed unanimously in both the Illinois House and Senate, and has been praised by the American Library Association, which has long advocated for the freedom to read without censorship.

The new law will ensure that public libraries in Illinois are not able to restrict access to books based on their own personal beliefs. It is hoped that this law will set a precedent for other states to follow, and that it will help to protect the freedom to read without censorship.