HB 119: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 9, 14, AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LIBRARIES.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

This Act establishes the following principles in regards to public library material: (1) Library material is provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all persons the library serves; (2) Library material should not be excluded, removed, or prohibited from a catalogue because of the origin, background, or views of a persons who created the material; (3) Material should not be excluded, removed, or prohibited from a library because of partisan, ideological, or religious disapproval. This Act requires that public libraries adopt a library collection development policy consistent with the foregoing principles. The written policy must include the policy and procedure that libraries will follow when receiving and reviewing objections to library material. It further requires that all library material that is under review due to an objection must remain available for use by library patrons until the review process is concluded. It also prohibits the governing body of a library from suspending, disciplining, or otherwise retaliating against an employee of a library that acts in accordance with the State principles and media content policy. This Act also creates similar requirements for school libraries and requires that public schools create policies and procedures for reviewing objections to school library material that conform to the established collection development policy for school libraries. Within these policies and procedures, school libraries must include: (1) a uniform process to submit an objection to material in a school library; (2) a requirement that material under review due to an objection remain available for use by students and school personnel until the review process is concluded; and (3) a reasonable timeline to conduct and conclude the review process. An appeal of a decision determining whether school library material may remain in the school library may be made to the board of the local education agency. A final appeal from the decision of the board of the local education agency may be made to a School Library Review Committee, which is made up of the following individuals or the individual’s designee: (1) The President of the School Chiefs’ Association. (2) The State Librarian. (3) The Secretary of the Department of Education. (4) The President of the Delaware State Education Association. (5) The President of the Association of School Administrators. (6) The President of the Delaware Association of School Librarians. (7) The President of the Delaware Library Association.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 20

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 15, 2025Signed by Governor
2. June 30, 2025Passed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 6 NO 1 ABSENT
3. June 18, 2025Reported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
4. May 22, 2025Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate
5. May 22, 2025Passed By House. Votes: 27 YES 10 NO 4 ABSENT
6. May 22, 2025Amendment HA 8 to HB 119 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
7. May 22, 2025Amendment HA 7 to HB 119 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
8. May 22, 2025Amendment HA 6 to HB 119 - Defeated In House by Voice Vote
9. May 22, 2025Amendment HA 5 to HB 119 - Stricken in House
10. May 22, 2025Amendment HA 4 to HB 119 - Stricken in House
11. May 22, 2025Amendment HA 3 to HB 119 - Defeated In House by Voice Vote
12. May 22, 2025Amendment HA 2 to HB 119 - Defeated In House by Voice Vote

Showing 12 most recent of 22 actions. Full history