The Granite State Literacy Act requires local school boards and public libraries in New Hampshire to establish policies for the curation and removal of library materials by July 1, 2026. The bill emphasizes the importance of intellectual freedom and equitable access to diverse viewpoints, mandating that school libraries provide materials that reflect a variety of perspectives, particularly from protected classes. The Department of Education is responsible for developing a model policy in collaboration with relevant organizations, which must be adopted by school boards. The policies will include ongoing reviews of library materials to ensure age-appropriate content while prohibiting censorship based on disagreement with ideas or offensive content. Additionally, the act introduces new sections to RSA 189 and amends RSA 202-A:2 to incorporate these provisions.

SB 208-FN further establishes requirements for public libraries, mandating library trustees to adopt a curation policy by July 1, 2026, that recognizes libraries as centers for voluntary inquiry and prohibits censorship. The bill outlines a formal process for residents to request the removal of materials, including the formation of a review committee to evaluate such requests, with challenged materials remaining available until a final decision is made. Protections are also provided for librarians, granting them immunity from civil and criminal liability for good faith actions and allowing them to pursue civil action for harassment related to their compliance. The effective date for these provisions is set for January 1, 2026, and the bill is not expected to have any fiscal impact, as it is anticipated that the requirements will be managed within existing staffing levels.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 202-A:2