Illinois Becomes 1st State to Pass Ban on Book Bans

As many more conservative states ban books from schools and libraries, Illinois just became the first state to ban book bans

As conservative states like Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Kentucky embrace rules that make it easier for school districts and libraries to limit kids’ access to books, Illinois is taking the complete opposite stance: the state just passed a law that bans book bans.

Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the bill this week, making Illinois the first state to pass legislation to prevent any school or library in the state from banning books (controversial or not)—though other states are now considering following suit.

“While certain hypocritical governors are banning books written by L.G.B.T.Q. authors, but then claiming censorship when the media fact-checks them, we are showing the nation what it really looks like to stand up for liberty,” Pritzker said as he signed the bill into law. It’s pretty clear that the “hypocritical governor” he’s calling out is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has drawn national attention for supporting laws that ban books from schools, prohibit teachers from discussing topics like gender identity at school, block trans kids from receiving gender-affirming healthcare, and other dangerous ideals.

New Jersey has a bill similar to the Illinois law now making its way through the state’s legislature. And other legal challenges may make it harder for states to ban books. Publisher Penguin Random House has teamed up with free-speech organization PEN America to sue a Florida school district, saying it’s a violation of the First Amendment for the school to prohibit students from accessing certain books because of “their disagreement with the ideas expressed in those books.”

Now we can only hope that even more states follow Illinois and New Jersey’s lead, and make sure kids have access to diverse ideas that educate and challenge them so they can grow up with the ability to think critically and form their own ideologies.