Maryland’s Freedom to Read Act

What This Law Does

The Freedom to Read Act protects Maryland’s library staff and establishes consistent statewide standards for school and public libraries. Under this law, library materials and resources remain accessible to the public and cannot be removed solely because someone disagrees with their viewpoint alone.

Bill Numbers: HB0785 and SB0738
Status: Passed April 25, 2024

“[The Freedom to Read Act] will let Maryland be a leader in the nation as far as protecting libraries, protecting library workers and protecting the freedom to read.”

Joshua Stone

Why This Law Was Needed

Prior to this bill's passage, there had been a rise in book challenges and bans were increasing across Maryland’s school and public libraries. Materials were being challenged or pulled from library shelves because of objections to their content, or the author's background or ideology.

Book challenges in Maryland have surged by more than 130% since 2019

This reflects a nationwide rise in book-banning efforts driven by ideological and partisan pressures. With growing public concern over censorship, access to information, and accurate representation, passing the law as an emergency measure ensured that libraries and school media centers could maintain funding, protect staff, and safeguard access to resources, addressing a pressing, real-world threat.

Before this bill, there was no statewide consistency: each library system, county, or district could handle challenges and removals differently, leading to a patchwork of policies and, in many cases, removals without a fair, transparent review process.

Who Benefits From This law

The bill affects everyone who uses Maryland’s school and public libraries, as well as the librarians and media staff who manage collections and have faced pressure or retaliation over materials challenges. It also ensures libraries have a sound policy that protects their collections and staff, and it helps protect authors and marginalized voices whose works are most often targeted for removal.