Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 236: Local, regional, and school library material; establishment of model policies.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 236 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 8, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Local, regional, and school library material; establishment of model policies. Primary sponsor: Debra Gardner (Democratic). It lists 4 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (February 18, 2026): Left in Education.
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.
Local, regional, and school library material. Requires the establishment of model policies and the subsequent establishment of local policies that are consistent with such model policies on the selection, purchase, curation, display, and removal of library material, as that term is defined in the bill, in local, regional, and school libraries in the Commonwealth. The bill requires such policies, among other things, to prohibit the censorship, as such term is defined in the bill, of library material and to establish a process by which certain individuals with a vested interest in the relevant library may request that the library material be reclassified, moved to a different section of the library, or removed from the library. The bill also permits certain individuals to seek certain types of relief in a court of competent jurisdiction for certain harms suffered as the result of violations of such policies.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 4
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debra Gardner | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 76 |
| Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Nadarius Clark | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 84 |
| J.R. Henson | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 19 |
| Marty Martinez | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 29 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Education
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB236)
- Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
- Referred to Committee on Education
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103774D