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South Carolina · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

H 4059: Freedom to Read Protections and Respect for School Librarian Autonomy

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

H 4059 is a bill introduced in the South Carolina House on February 19, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Freedom to Read Protections and Respect for School Librarian Autonomy. Primary sponsor: Heather Bauer (Democratic), Lonnie Hosey (Democratic), Kambrell Garvin (Democratic), Gilda Cobb-Hunter (Democratic), Beth Bernstein (Democratic), Leon Stavrinakis (Democratic), Chandra Dillard (Democratic), Spencer Wetmore (Democratic), John King (Democratic), Tiffany Spann-Wilder (Democratic), Wendell Jones (Democratic), Michael Rivers (Democratic), Wendell Gilliard (Democratic), Carl Anderson (Democratic), Roger Kirby (Democratic), Jason Luck (Democratic), Seth Rose (Democratic), Todd Rutherford (Democratic), Terry Alexander (Democratic), Hamilton Grant (Democratic), Robert Reese (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (February 19, 2025): Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

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

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "FREEDOM TO READ PROTECTIONS AND RESPECT FOR SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST AUTONOMY ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 59-31-55 SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO AFFIRM CERTAIN RIGHTS CONCERNING STUDENT ACCESS TO DIVERSE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE READING MATERIAL, TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT FOR SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS TO AUTONOMOUSLY MAKE CERTAIN DECISIONS ABOUT CURATING AND MAINTAINING MATERIALS IN THEIR SCHOOL LIBRARY/MEDIA CENTER COLLECTIONS, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR FORMAL CHALLENGES TO SUCH MATERIALS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED RIGHTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS AND OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS WHEN PERFORMING RELATED PROFESSIONAL DUTIES IN GOOD FAITH.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 21

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Heather BauerPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse75
Lonnie HoseyPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse91
Kambrell GarvinPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse77
Gilda Cobb-HunterPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse95
Beth BernsteinPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse78
Leon StavrinakisPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse119
Chandra DillardPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse23
Spencer WetmorePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse115
John KingPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse49
Tiffany Spann-WilderPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse109
Wendell JonesPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse25
Michael RiversPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse121
Wendell GilliardPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse111
Carl AndersonPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse103
Roger KirbyPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse101
Jason LuckPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse54
Seth RosePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse72
Todd RutherfordPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse74
Terry AlexanderPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse59
Hamilton GrantPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse79
Robert ReesePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse70

“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. Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
  2. Introduced and read first time

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source