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Looking Back: Advocacy 2025
February 2025: Legislative Session In Full Swing!
The session started last month, and we're seeing a ton of movement on library-related legislation. Watch this space for updates on all of the important library-related bills that have been raised, as well as how you can get involved!!
In the meantime, be sure to keep building those connections with your local legislators. Let them know what the library means to your community!
CT's 2025 Session: Library-related Bills Galore
🚨🚨🚨PUBLIC HEARING ALERT! Mark your calendars...
fair contracts for library EBOOKS: SB 1234 AND HB 6958
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2025
Planning & Development hearing to include HB 6958 on ebooks!
When: Starts at 10:30 AM
Where: Room 2D of the Legislative Office Building (public parking available) AND over Zoom
Agenda can be viewed here
Sign up HERE to give spoken testimony in person in Hartford, or over Zoom.
👉Deadline to register: Tues., February 18 at 3:00 PM
Submit your written testimony here. Remember to:
- Select "2/19/2025 10:30 AM" from the "Hearing Date and Time" dropdown.
- Select "HB06958 - AA MAKING CERTAIN TERMS IN ELECTRONIC BOOK..." from the "Bill Number(s)" box.
- Include your first and last name, as well as any other pertinent information (e.g. title and org/agency)
- Proofread your testimony, then upload your file and submit!
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2025
Government Administration & Elections hearing to include SB 1234 on ebooks!
When: Starts at 12:00 PM
Where: Room 2B of the Legislative Office Building (public parking available) AND over Zoom
Agenda can be viewed here
Sign up HERE to give spoken testimony live in Hartford or over Zoom.
Deadline to register: Wed., Feb. 12 at 3:00 PM
Submit your written testimony here. Remember to:
- Select "2/7/2025 12:00 PM" from the "Hearing Date and Time" dropdown.
- Select "SB01234 - AA MAKING CERTAIN TERMS IN ELECTRONIC BOOK..." from the "Bill Number(s)" box.
- Include your first and last name, as well as any other pertinent information (e.g. title and org/agency)
- Proofread your testimony, then upload your file and submit!
YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED
We need people from all over the state to submit testimony and send letters to local legislators asking them to support this legislation!
Ready to write a letter? Check out our templates first!
Get some inspiration and tips to help you highlight what's most important to you about this legislation, and why. Personal stories are the most impactful! (Note: These templates are from 2024 and will be updated soon - but they are still applicable this year! Just be sure to update the text accordingly.)
Protect Libraries, Librarians, Right to Read: SB 1271 AND HB 7014
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025
Ready to write your letter of testimony? Prepping to speak at the hearing? Check out our toolkits first!
Find helpful details, tips, templates, and more in our toolkits. If you use a template, remember to update your own testimony to the correct bill number, committee name & legislator names, and share your own story! Your voice is important.
For this bill, you can start with something like the following, and go from there!
Dear Senator McCrory, Representative Leeper, and Distinguished Members of the Education Committee:
I am writing in support of HB 7014: An Act Concerning Public School Libraries.
TESTIMONY TOOLKIT FOR LIBRARY WORKERS
TESTIMONY TOOLKIT FOR LIBRARY USERS
Education Committee hearing to include HB 7014 on protecting libraries & right to read!
When: Starts at 10:00 AM
Where: Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building (public parking available) AND over Zoom
Agenda can be viewed here
Sign up HERE to give spoken testimony live in Hartford or over Zoom.
Deadline to register: Tues., Feb. 25 at 3:00 PM
Submit your written testimony here. Remember to:
- Select "2/25/2025 10:00 AM" from the "Hearing Date and Time" dropdown.
- Select "HB07014 - AAC PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES" from the "Bill Number(s)" box.
- Include your first and last name, as well as any other pertinent information (e.g. title and org/agency)
- Proofread your testimony, then upload your file and submit!
YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED
We need people from all over the state to give spoken testimony and submit written testimony in support of this legislation!!
Ready to write your letter? Prepping to speak at the hearing? Check out our toolkits first!
Find helpful details, tips, templates, and more in our toolkits. Remember to edit your testimony to the correct bill number, committee name & legislator names, and share your own story! Your voice is important. If you use a template, remember to update your own testimony to the correct bill number, committee name & legislator names, and share your own story! Your voice is important.
For this bill, you can start with something like the following, and go from there!
Dear Senator McCrory, Representative Leeper, and Distinguished Members of the Education Committee:
I am writing in support of HB 7014: An Act Concerning Public School Libraries.
TESTIMONY TOOLKIT FOR LIBRARY WORKERS
TESTIMONY TOOLKIT FOR LIBRARY USERS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025
Ready to write your letter of testimony? Prepping to speak at the hearing? Check out our toolkits first!
Find helpful details, tips, templates, and more here:
TESTIMONY TOOLKIT FOR LIBRARY WORKERS
TESTIMONY TOOLKIT FOR LIBRARY USERS
Committee on Children hearing to include SB 1271 on protecting libraries & right to read!
When: Starts at 3:00 PM
Where: Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building (public parking available) AND over Zoom
Agenda can be viewed here
Sign up HERE to give spoken testimony live in Hartford or over Zoom.
Deadline to register: Wed., Feb. 12 at 3:00 PM
Submit your written testimony here. Remember to:
- Select "2/13/2025 3:00 PM" from the "Hearing Date and Time" dropdown.
- Select "SB01271 - AAC SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES" from the "Bill Number(s)" box.
- Include your first and last name, as well as any other pertinent information (e.g. title and org/agency)
- Proofread your testimony, then upload your file and submit!
Here Are the Latest Bills to Keep An Eye On, as of February 6, 2025:
eBooks
- SB 237: AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTRONIC BOOK LICENSING.
- SB 1234: AN ACT MAKING CERTAIN TERMS IN ELECTRONIC BOOK AND DIGITAL AUDIOBOOK LICENSE AGREEMENTS OR CONTRACTS UNENFORCEABLE.
- HB 6958: AN ACT MAKING CERTAIN TERMS IN ELECTRONIC BOOK AND DIGITAL AUDIOBOOK LICENSE AGREEMENTS OR CONTRACTS UNENFORCEABLE.
Budget
- HB 5866: AN ACT EVALUATING FUNDING FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Purpose: To study and identify funding gaps for public libraries and options for efficiency and sustainability.
Freedom to Read
- SB 1217: AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Purpose: To require public and school libraries to develop a (1) collection development and maintenance policy, (2) library program and display policy, and (3) library material review and reconsideration policy.
- SB 523: AN ACT CONCERNING THE CURATION AND RETENTION OF LITERARY MATERIALS CONTAINED IN PUBLIC AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND LEGAL PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO LIBRARIANS AND STAFF WORKING IN SUCH LIBRARIES. Purpose: To protect state residents by prohibiting public and school libraries from censoring books and providing librarians and other library staff members with legal protections, including immunity from criminal and civil liability, for carrying out work-related duties in accordance with state law.
- HB 5508: AN ACT CONCERNING A FREEDOM TO READ. Purpose: To protect the authority of local and regional boards of education to prescribe the materials that belong in a school library.
- HB 5862: AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES. Purpose: To require the development of policies concerning public school libraries.
- HB 5865: AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND CHILDREN. Purpose: To require adherence to established protocols when evaluating materials to be used in school libraries.
- HB 5867: AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES. Purpose: To require local and regional boards of education to adopt a policy concerning public school library collection of books and other educational media.
- Bills of concern:
-
- HB 5858: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SCHOOL LIBRARIES TASK FORCE. Purpose: To establish a task force to create guidelines for school libraries in determining what literary materials are appropriate for inclusion in such libraries.
- HB 5898: AN ACT PROHIBITING THE AVAILABILITY OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL IN PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES. Purpose: To prevent student access to sexually explicit material in public school libraries.
- HB 5858: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SCHOOL LIBRARIES TASK FORCE. Purpose: To establish a task force to create guidelines for school libraries in determining what literary materials are appropriate for inclusion in such libraries.
Other Library-Related Bills of note
- HB 6525: AN ACT DISSOLVING THE LAURA ANDREWS FREE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. Purpose: To dissolve the Laura Andrews Free Library Association and distribute the funds of said association to the Town of Thomaston.
The Connecticut Library Association (CLA) is committed to standing up for all of CT’s libraries and the services they provide. We need you to be engaged in our advocacy efforts. It’s just not enough for CLA’s leadership to speak up. We need library leadership (directors and trustees), library staff, library Friends and library patrons to take a stand on behalf of CT’s libraries.
Speak Up! 👈 Info and tips from the 2024 legislative session. For updates on the current session (2025), scroll back up and watch this space!
