Senate President Spilka Applauds Law Keeping Book Bans Out of Massachusetts
(BOSTON — 8/10/2026) Today, Massachusetts Senate President Karen E. Spilka applauded Governor Healey signing the Senate’s law to protect students' freedom to read and keeping book bans out of Massachusetts schools and public libraries.
"With the Governor's signature today, we are protecting the values we hold so dear: the freedom to create, to think for oneself, to explore our world through books and art, and pass our American legacy of free expression to our children and grandchildren," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland).
"As our residents' constitutional rights face attacks at every turn from the federal government, this legislation protects the freedom to read a book of one's choice in order to learn and grow, free of political bias. I applaud Senator Cyr and Senator Oliveira for their leadership, all my Senate colleagues for their support, our colleagues in the House, and Governor Healey for signing this critical bill."
As school and public libraries nationally are increasingly faced with politically-charged debates over banning access to particular library books, the bill creates clear guidelines for how schools and libraries decide which books to make available, and how local leaders determine whether a book is appropriate or should be removed from the shelf.
###