Illinois has become the first state in the United States to outlaw book bans, with Governor J.B. Pritzker signing a bill into law on Monday. The law, which will take effect on January 1, 2024, 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 was the driving force behind the legislation, which was passed unanimously in both the Illinois House and Senate. It has been praised by the American Library Association, and it is hoped that it will set a precedent for other states to follow.
