SB 738

Freedom to Read Act

Sponsor: Nancy J. King (District 39)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: Education - MiscellaneousStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 130 (as of Nov 13, 2024)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing a State policy that local school systems operate their school library media programs consistent with certain standards; requiring each local school system to develop a policy and procedures to review objections to materials in a school library media program; prohibiting a county board of education from dismissing, demoting, suspending, disciplining, reassigning, transferring, or otherwise retaliating against certain school library media program personnel for performing their job duties consistent with certain standards; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (115)

MGA witness list

FAV 71FavorableFWA 4Favorable with amendmentsUNF 38UnfavorableINFO 2Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Patinella, Franklobbyist	ACLU of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Taube, John	Allegany County Library System	Written (PDF)
FAV	Feldmann, Christine	Annapolis Pride	Written (PDF)
FAV	Auld, Skip	Anne Arundel County Public Library	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Alcantara-Antoine, Sonia	Baltimore County Public Library	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Watson, Jamie	Baltimore County Public Library	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Duba, David	Bowie High School, Student Government	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bennett, Debby	Caroline County Public Library	Written (PDF)
FAV	Berling, Kathryn	Carroll County Education Association (MSEA)	Oral
FAV	Owings, Laurie	Carroll County Education Association (MSEA)	Oral
FAV	Baykan, Mary	Citizens for Maryland Libraries	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Position only
FAV	Fitzwater, Jessica	Frederick County Executive	Written (PDF)
FAV	Fitzwater, Jessica	Frederick County Executive	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kelly, James	Frederick County Public Libraries	Written (PDF)
FAV	Farris, Jaden	GLSEN Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Farris, Jaden	GLSEN Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Aikens, Tonya	Howard County Library System	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sunderman, Gail	League of Women Voters Maryland (LWVMD)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ward, Lindsay	MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Gerding, Jacob	Maryland Association of School Librarians	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hulme Tignor, Brittany	Maryland Association of School Librarians	Written (PDF)
FAV	Love, Tatanisha	Maryland Association of School Librarians	Written (PDF)
FAV	Browning, Jeremy	Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Browning, Jeremy	Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baker, Lindsey	Maryland Humanities	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sutherland, Tiffany	Maryland Library Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bogdan, Henrylobbyist	Maryland Nonprofits	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bogdan, Henrylobbyist	Maryland Nonprofits	Written (PDF)
FAV	Edwards, Donna	Maryland State & DC AFL-CIO	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bost, Cheryl	Maryland State Education Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bost, Cheryl	Maryland State Education Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Padilla, Irene	Maryland State Library Agency	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Padilla, Irene	Maryland State Library Agency	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hossainkhail, Alexander	Maryland Youth Advisory Council	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cross, Cashenna	NAACP	Position only
FAV	Spangler, Adam	Office of Attorney General	Written (PDF)
FAV	Spangler, Adam	Office of Attorney General	Written (PDF)
FAV	Pittman, Steuart	Office of the Anne Arundel County Executive	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sutherland, Megan	Prince George's County Memorial Library System	Written (PDF)
FAV	Salazar, Janet	Queen Anne's County Library	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lyons, Kathleen	Queen Anne’s County Public Library Board of Trustees	Written (PDF)
FAV	Vose, Thomas	Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County	Written (PDF)
FAV	Teagle, Ashley	Southern Maryland Regional Library Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Funk, Kenzie	Strong Schools Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Weich, Ronald	University of Baltimore School of Law	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bakos, Jenny	Washington County Free Library	Written (PDF)
FAV	Carr, Alissa	Worcester United	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Towne, Ezra	self	Written (PDF)
FAV	Benn, Sarahia	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Buckler, Lauren	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Buckler, Lauren	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Copper, Michele	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dowell, Arnessa	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hollywood, Nicole	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hollywood, Nicole	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)

Showing 60 of 115

Organizations on record

ACLU of MarylandFAV 1

Allegany County Library SystemFAV 1

Annapolis PrideFAV 1

Anne Arundel County Public LibraryFAV 1

Baltimore County Public LibraryFAV 2

Bowie High School, Student GovernmentFAV 1

Caroline County Public LibraryFAV 1

Carroll County Education Association (MSEA)FAV 2

Cecil County Councils OfficeUNF 1

Citizens for Maryland LibrariesFAV 1

Concerned CitizenUNF 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

Enoch Pratt Free LibraryFWA 1

Frederick County ExecutiveFAV 2

Frederick County Public LibrariesFAV 1

GLSEN MarylandFAV 2

Howard County Library SystemFAV 1

ICQUNF 1

League of Women Voters Maryland (LWVMD)FAV 1

Maryland Assn. of Boards of EducationFWA 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)INFO 2

Maryland Association of School LibrariansFAV 3

Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ AffairsFAV 2

Maryland HumanitiesFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 2

Maryland Library AssociationFAV 1

Maryland NonprofitsFAV 2

Maryland State & DC AFL-CIOFAV 1

Maryland State Education AssociationFAV 2

Maryland State Library AgencyFAV 2

Maryland Youth Advisory CouncilFAV 1

MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)FAV 1

Moms for Liberty MarylandUNF 2

NAACPFAV 1

Office of Attorney GeneralFAV 2

Office of the Anne Arundel County ExecutiveFAV 1

Pacific Justice InstituteUNF 1

Prince George's County Memorial Library SystemFAV 1

Queen Anne's County LibraryFAV 1

Queen Anne’s County Public Library Board of TrusteesFAV 1

Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett CountyFAV 1

selfFAV 1

Southern Maryland Regional Library AssociationFAV 1

State & Local AdvisorsUNF 1

Strong Schools MarylandFAV 1

University of Baltimore School of LawFAV 1

Washington County Free LibraryFAV 1

Worcester County GovernmentUNF 1

Worcester UnitedFAV 1

YearFAV 2

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVPatinella, FrankACLU of MarylandRegistered for: ACLU of Maryland; American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland

FAVBogdan, HenryMaryland NonprofitsRegistered for: Maryland Nonprofits

UNFEllington, PaulState & Local AdvisorsRegistered for: Wicomico County, MD Executive Office; Greater Crisfield Action Committee; Glenn L Martin Maryland Aviation Museum; Maryland Aviation Council; Worcester County Maryland; Optimize Renewables…

FWAWoolums, JohnMaryland Assn. of Boards of EducationRegistered for: Maryland Association of Boards of Education

FWAFannon, Mary PatRegistered for: Public School Superintendents' Association of Maryland

INFOJanuary, BriannaMaryland Association of Counties (MACo)Registered for: Chamber of Progress