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IntroducedJan 31, 2024
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Passed HouseMar 15, 2024
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Passed SenateMar 29, 2024
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Signed into LawApr 25, 2024
Freedom to Read Act
Last Action See all actions
executive • Apr 25, 2024: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 129
Latest Bill Text See all bill texts
Official Summary/Bill Text
Comments on HB 785
Tweets
Whip Lists
Sponsors
- Ebersolecosponsor
- Wilkinscosponsor
- Faircosponsor
- Feldmarkcosponsor
- Grossmancosponsor
- Mireku-Northcosponsor
- Palakovich Carrcosponsor
- Wucosponsor
Votes
YES: 35
- Adams
- Chisholm
- Hornberger
- Metzgar
- Rose
- Anderton
- Ciliberti
- Hutchinson
- Miller
- Schmidt
- Arentz
- Ghrist
- Jacobs
- Morgan, M.
- Stonko
- Arikan
- Grammer
- Kipke
- Morgan, T.
- Szeliga
- Baker
- Griffith
- Long, R.
- Nawrocki
- Tomlinson
- Bouchat
- Hartman
- Mangione
- Pippy
- Valentine
- Buckel
- Hinebaugh
- McComas
- Reilly
- Wivell
NO: 88
- Speaker
- Crosby
- Holmes
- Palakovich Carr
- Taveras
- Addison
- Crutchfield
- Ivey
- Patterson
- Taylor
- Allen
- Cullison
- Johnson, A.
- Pena-Melnyk
- Terrasa
- Alston
- Davis
- Johnson, S.
- Pruski
- Toles
- Amprey
- Ebersole
- Jones, D.
- Roberson
- Turner
- Attar
- Edelson
- Kaiser
- Roberts
- Valderrama
- Atterbeary
- Embry
- Kaufman
- Rosenberg
- Vogel
- Bagnall
- Fair
- Kerr
- Ruff
- Watson
- Barnes
- Feldmark
- Korman
- Ruth
- Wells
- Bartlett
- Foley
- Lehman
- Shetty
- White Holland
- Bhandari
- Forbes
- Lewis, J.
- Simmons
- Wilkins
- Boafo
- Fraser-Hidalgo
- Lewis, R.
- Simpson
- Williams
- Boyce
- Grossman
- Lopez
- Smith
- Wilson
- Cardin
- Guzzone
- Love
- Solomon
- Wims
- Chang
- Harris
- Martinez
- Spiegel
- Wolek
- Charkoudian
- Harrison
- McCaskill
- Stein
- Young
- Clippinger
- Healey
- Mireku-North
- Stewart
- Ziegler
- Conaway
- Henson
- Moon
NOT VOTING: 14
YES: 36
- Adams
- Ciliberti
- Hornberger
- Metzgar
- Rose
- Anderton
- Fisher
- Hutchinson
- Miller
- Schmidt
- Arentz
- Ghrist
- Jacobs
- Morgan, M.
- Stonko
- Arikan
- Grammer
- Kipke
- Morgan, T.
- Szeliga
- Baker
- Griffith
- Long, R.
- Nawrocki
- Tomlinson
- Bouchat
- Hartman
- Mangione
- Pippy
- Valentine
- Buckel
- Hinebaugh
- McComas
- Reilly
- Wivell
- Chisholm
NO: 88
- Speaker
- Crosby
- Holmes
- Palakovich Carr
- Taylor
- Addison
- Crutchfield
- Ivey
- Patterson
- Terrasa
- Allen
- Cullison
- Johnson, A.
- Pena-Melnyk
- Toles
- Alston
- Davis
- Johnson, S.
- Pruski
- Turner
- Amprey
- Ebersole
- Jones, D.
- Roberson
- Valderrama
- Attar
- Edelson
- Kaiser
- Roberts
- Vogel
- Atterbeary
- Embry
- Kaufman
- Rosenberg
- Watson
- Bagnall
- Fair
- Kerr
- Ruff
- Wells
- Barnes
- Feldmark
- Korman
- Ruth
- White Holland
- Bartlett
- Foley
- Lehman
- Shetty
- Wilkins
- Bhandari
- Forbes
- Lewis, J.
- Simmons
- Williams
- Boafo
- Fraser-Hidalgo
- Lewis, R.
- Simpson
- Wilson
- Boyce
- Grossman
- Lopez
- Smith
- Wims
- Cardin
- Guzzone
- Love
- Solomon
- Wolek
- Chang
- Harris
- Martinez
- Spiegel
- Wu
- Charkoudian
- Harrison
- McCaskill
- Stein
- Young
- Clippinger
- Healey
- Mireku-North
- Stewart
- Ziegler
- Conaway
- Henson
- Moon
NOT VOTING: 13
YES: 37
- Adams
- Ciliberti
- Hornberger
- Metzgar
- Rose
- Anderton
- Fisher
- Hutchinson
- Miller
- Schmidt
- Arentz
- Ghrist
- Jacobs
- Morgan, M.
- Stonko
- Arikan
- Grammer
- Kipke
- Morgan, T.
- Szeliga
- Baker
- Griffith
- Long, R.
- Nawrocki
- Tomlinson
- Bouchat
- Hartman
- Mangione
- Pippy
- Valentine
- Buckel
- Henson
- McComas
- Reilly
- Wivell
- Chisholm
- Hinebaugh
NO: 90
- Speaker
- Crosby
- Holmes
- Palakovich Carr
- Stein
- Acevero
- Crutchfield
- Ivey
- Pasteur
- Stewart
- Addison
- Cullison
- Johnson, S.
- Patterson
- Taylor
- Allen
- Davis
- Jones, D.
- Pena-Melnyk
- Terrasa
- Alston
- Ebersole
- Kaiser
- Pruski
- Toles
- Attar
- Edelson
- Kaufman
- Queen
- Turner
- Atterbeary
- Embry
- Kerr
- Roberson
- Valderrama
- Bagnall
- Fair
- Korman
- Roberts
- Vogel
- Barnes
- Feldmark
- Lehman
- Rosenberg
- Watson
- Bartlett
- Fennell
- Lewis, J.
- Ruff
- Wells
- Bhandari
- Foley
- Lewis, R.
- Ruth
- White Holland
- Boafo
- Forbes
- Long, J.
- Sample-Hughes
- Wilkins
- Boyce
- Fraser-Hidalgo
- Lopez
- Shetty
- Williams
- Cardin
- Grossman
- Love
- Simmons
- Wilson
- Chang
- Guzzone
- Martinez
- Simpson
- Wims
- Charkoudian
- Harris
- McCaskill
- Smith
- Wolek
- Clippinger
- Harrison
- Mireku-North
- Solomon
- Wu
- Conaway
- Healey
- Moon
- Spiegel
- Ziegler
YES: 98
- Speaker
- Crutchfield
- Ivey
- Pasteur
- Taveras
- Acevero
- Cullison
- Jackson
- Patterson
- Taylor
- Addison
- Davis
- Johnson, A.
- Pena-Melnyk
- Terrasa
- Allen
- Ebersole
- Johnson, S.
- Phillips
- Toles
- Alston
- Edelson
- Jones, D.
- Pruski
- Turner
- Amprey
- Embry
- Kaiser
- Roberson
- Valderrama
- Attar
- Fair
- Kaufman
- Roberts
- Vogel
- Atterbeary
- Feldmark
- Kerr
- Rogers
- Watson
- Bagnall
- Fennell
- Korman
- Rosenberg
- Wells
- Barnes
- Foley
- Lehman
- Ruff
- White Holland
- Bartlett
- Forbes
- Lewis, J.
- Ruth
- Wilkins
- Bhandari
- Fraser-Hidalgo
- Lewis, R.
- Shetty
- Williams
- Boafo
- Grossman
- Long, J.
- Simmons
- Wilson
- Boyce
- Guyton
- Lopez
- Simpson
- Wims
- Cardin
- Guzzone
- Love
- Smith
- Wolek
- Chang
- Harris
- Martinez
- Solomon
- Woods
- Charkoudian
- Healey
- McCaskill
- Spiegel
- Wu
- Clippinger
- Henson
- Mireku-North
- Stein
- Young
- Conaway
- Hill
- Moon
- Stewart
- Ziegler
- Crosby
- Holmes
- Palakovich Carr
NO: 37
ABSENT: 5
NOT VOTING: 1
YES: 100
- Speaker
- Crutchfield
- Holmes
- Palakovich Carr
- Spiegel
- Acevero
- Cullison
- Ivey
- Pasteur
- Stein
- Addison
- Davis
- Jackson
- Patterson
- Stewart
- Allen
- Ebersole
- Johnson, A.
- Pena-Melnyk
- Taveras
- Alston
- Edelson
- Johnson, S.
- Phillips
- Taylor
- Amprey
- Embry
- Jones, D.
- Pruski
- Terrasa
- Attar
- Fair
- Kaiser
- Qi
- Toles
- Atterbeary
- Feldmark
- Kaufman
- Queen
- Turner
- Bagnall
- Fennell
- Kerr
- Roberson
- Valderrama
- Barnes
- Foley
- Korman
- Roberts
- Watson
- Bartlett
- Forbes
- Lehman
- Rogers
- Wells
- Bhandari
- Fraser-Hidalgo
- Lewis, J.
- Rosenberg
- White Holland
- Boafo
- Grossman
- Lewis, R.
- Ruff
- Williams
- Boyce
- Guyton
- Long, J.
- Ruth
- Wilson
- Cardin
- Guzzone
- Lopez
- Sample-Hughes
- Wims
- Chang
- Harris
- Love
- Shetty
- Wolek
- Charkoudian
- Harrison
- Martinez
- Simmons
- Woods
- Clippinger
- Healey
- McCaskill
- Simpson
- Wu
- Conaway
- Henson
- Mireku-North
- Smith
- Young
- Crosby
- Hill
- Moon
- Solomon
- Ziegler
NO: 36
Actions
- Apr 25, 2024 | executive
- Approved by the Governor - Chapter 129
- Apr 02, 2024 | House
- House Concurs Senate Amendments
- Third Reading Passed (100-36)
- Passed Enrolled
- Mar 29, 2024 | Senate
- Third Reading Passed (34-11)
- Mar 28, 2024 | Senate
- Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
- Favorable with Amendments {783829/1 Adopted
- Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 18, 2024 | Senate
- Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment
- Mar 15, 2024 | House
- Third Reading Passed (98-37)
- Mar 13, 2024 | House
- Floor Amendment {493622/1 (Delegate Mangione) Rejected (37-90)
- Floor Amendment {123629/1 (Delegate Pippy) Rejected (36-88)
- Floor Amendment {683725/1 (Delegate Schmidt) Rejected (35-88)
- Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 12, 2024 | House
- Favorable with Amendments {573520/1 Adopted
- Motion Special Order until 3/13 (Delegate Mangione) Adopted
- Mar 11, 2024 | House
- Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means
- Feb 07, 2024 | House
- Hearing 2/21 at 1:00 p.m.
- Jan 31, 2024 | House
- First Reading Ways and Means
Bill Texts
- Text - First - Freedom to Read ActPDF
- Amendments {573520/1 Adopted (House)PDF
- Floor Amendment {493622/1 (Delegate Mangione) Rejected (37-90) (House)PDF
- Floor Amendment {123629/1 (Delegate Pippy) Rejected (36-88) (House)PDF
- Floor Amendment {683725/1 (Delegate Schmidt) Rejected (35-88) (House)PDF
- Text - Third - Freedom to Read ActPDF
- Amendments {783829/1 Adopted (Senate)PDF
- Text - Enrolled - Freedom to Read ActPDF
- Text - Chapter - Freedom to Read ActPDF
Documents
- Fiscal and Policy Note (Revised)PDF
- Vote - House - Committee - Ways and MeansPDF
- Vote - Senate - Committee - Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentPDF
- Video: Ways and MeansHTML
- Witness ListHTML
- W&M Testimony, UNF -- Hale, Terry (Cecil County Councils Office)
- W&M In Person - Oral Testimony, FAV -- Mignardi, Donna (Maryland Association of School Librarians)
- W&M Virtual - Oral Testimony, FAV -- Farris, Jaden (GLSEN Maryland)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Pironis, Kristen (Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Feldmann, Christine (Annapolis Pride)
- W&M In Person - Oral Testimony, FAV -- Dye, Skip (Penguin Random House)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Baykan, Mary (Citizens for Maryland Libraries)
- W&M Virtual - Oral Testimony, FAV -- Alcantara-Antoine, Sonia (Baltimore County Public Library)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Love, Tatanisha (Maryland Association of School Librarians)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Ward, Lindsay (MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP))
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Sunderman, Gail (League of Women Voters Maryland (LWVMD))
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Flax, Jennifer
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Taube, John (Allegany County Library System)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Spangler, Adam (Office of Attorney General)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Sinsky-Hopkins, Sharon
- W&M In Person - Oral Testimony, FAV -- Padilla, Irene (Maryland State Library Agency)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Teagle, Ashley (Southern Maryland Regional Library Association)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Vose, Thomas (Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Hopkins, Daniel
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Kelly, James (Frederick County Public Libraries)
- W&M Testimony, UNF -- Lombardo, Darren (Delmarva Parent Teacher Coalition)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Edwards, Donna (Maryland State & DC AFL-CIO)
- W&M Testimony, UNF -- Dulin, Althea
- W&M Testimony, UNF -- Ennis, Ella
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Fitzwater, Jessica (Frederick County Executive)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Kaplowitz, Richard KAP (Year)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Bakos, Jenny (Washington County Free Library)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Jasen, Debi
- W&M In Person - Oral Testimony, FAV -- Auld, Skip (Anne Arundel County Public Library)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Bennett, Debby (Caroline County Public Library)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Wilkerson, Alice (Advance Maryland)
- W&M In Person - Oral Testimony, FAV -- Bost, Cheryl (Maryland State Education Association)
- W&M Testimony, UNF -- Williams, Peggy
- W&M Testimony, UNF -- Tibbals, Trudy
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Jansen, Lloyd
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Counihan, Erin
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Sutherland, Megan (Prince George's County Memorial Library System)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Plante, Cecilia (Maryland Legislative Coalition)
- W&M Testimony, FWA -- Woolums, John (Maryland Assn. of Boards of Education)
- W&M Virtual - Oral Testimony, FAV -- Russell, Brandon
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Copper, Michele
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Kramer, Hayden
- W&M Testimony, UNF -- McCloskey, Katherine
- W&M Virtual - Oral Testimony, FAV -- Brion-Meisels, Gretchen (Harvard Graduate School of Education)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Smith, Maria
- W&M In Person - Oral Testimony, UNF -- Scott, Suzie (Moms for Liberty Maryland)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Duba, David (Bowie High School, Student Government)
- W&M Testimony, INFO -- January, Brianna (Maryland Association of Counties (MACo))
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Swann, Tim
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Browning, Jeremy (Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs)
- W&M Testimony, UNF -- Idleman, Melissa
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Buckler, Lauren
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Finch, Maida
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Pittman, Steuart (Office of the Anne Arundel County Executive)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Towne, Ezra (self)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Dowell, Arnessa
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Sutherland, Tiffany (Maryland Library Association)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Korona, Kristina
- W&M Testimony, UNF -- Adams, Jennifer
- W&M Virtual - Oral Testimony, FAV -- Novak, Wendy
- W&M Virtual - Oral Testimony, FAV -- Hollywood, Nicole
- W&M Testimony, FWA -- Fannon, Mary Pat
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Miller, Morgan (Cecil County Public Library)
- W&M In Person - Oral Testimony, UNF -- HENRY, LORNA (Pacific Justice Institute)
- W&M Testimony, UNF -- Thompson, Tara
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Jones, Dana (Maryland General Assembly)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Hulme Tignor, Brittany (Maryland Association of School Librarians)
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Levitas, Daphne
- W&M Testimony, FAV -- Bronson, Jessica