New Jersey Governor Signs New Law to Limit Book Bans and Protect Librarians | New Jersey Monitor
The “Freedom to Read Act” limits book bans in public schools and libraries and shields librarians from lawsuits and criminal charges filed by folks who find library materials obscene or otherwise objectionable. The law also bars school and library boards from removing books because of the “origin, background, or views” of the material or those contributing to its creation, and allows only people with a “vested interest” to challenge a book in a school library. It also gives librarians and library staff immunity from civil and criminal liability for “good faith actions.” It will take effect in one year, giving state education officials and libraries time to devise the required policies.

Florida to Pay Up to $15 Million for DeSantis's Parental Rights Laws | Tallahassee Democrat
In a contract signed this September, the Florida Department of Education agreed to pay up to $15.6 million to Maryland-based education technology company Trinity Education Group. The company has been tapped to develop a “statewide, centralized, easily accessible” system for people to review and even object to instructional materials and library books in Florida school districts.

State Anti-Book-Ban Law Leads Some Illinois School Districts to Forsake Grants to Maintain Local Control | Chicago Tribune [via Yahoo!]
A number of school districts, many of them in deeply conservative areas of south and central Illinois, appear to have decided to give up state grants to avoid adopting principles against book banning. Administrators at some of those districts acknowledged being concerned about giving up any measure of control on what books are allowed on their schools’ library shelves. The state library grants are not large—about $850 for small districts. No district that opted out of applying for funding this year received more than $4,000 in grant money during the last fiscal year, according to state records.

Oregon School District Removes Two Books from High School Library | Jefferson Public Radio
For the first time, the Grants Pass (OR) School District has removed challenged books from its libraries. After reading and discussing the books, the committee voted to remove two from the Grants Pass High School Library: All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson and Lucky by Alice Sebold. The resident who challenged All Boys Aren't Blue does not have children in the district and had not read the book.

Librarians Stand Firm as Book Bans Stack Up and Concerns Swirl Post-Election | USA Today
Librarians have always been the subject of stereotypes, "but we have never been misunderstood to the extent that we're seen as enemies," said academic librarian Jessica Hayes, who co-founded Read Freely Alabama and is an advocacy coordinator for the Alabama Library Association.

South Dakota Libraries Face Future of Stricter Policies, Slashed Budgets | Public News Service
South Dakota librarians are implementing new policies for young readers in the new year, and they are expecting future challenges with the governor's proposed funding cuts for 2026. Both school and public libraries across the state are required to roll out new policies on Jan. 1 to "restrict the access of obscene materials by minors," online and in print, with a new law passed this year.

On Book Bans and Minnesota | Mpls St. Paul Magazine
Exploring how book bans are touching the North Star State and where they might go from here.

With Utah’s Statewide Book Bans, Two School Districts Have Steered the Conversation | KUER
The Davis (UT) School District made 77 of the reports and the Washington County (UT) School District made 51. Together, the two districts account for 78.5% of all reports. All 14 books that have already been banned statewide were reported by the two districts.

North Texas Rep. Gunning for Statewide Banned Book List | Dallas Observer
Early bills filed by state legislators show that Texas Republicans are teeing up for a book banning bonanza.

Wyoming Library Board Members Push for Less 'Liberal' Review Sources and More Self-Published Books | Gillette News Record
Some members of the Campbell County (WY) Public Library board want to change the list of the library’s approved secondary source publishers. Right now, the library’s collection development policy includes a list of respected journals that are generally acceptable to use as secondary sources. Board member Chelsie Collier introduced the topic at the board’s Nov. 25 meeting, asking that the language in the library’s policy describing the kinds of approved review sources, as well as the particular journals mentioned, be rewritten to be more vague. "A lot of these review sources are very liberal and . . . are not the full scope," Collier said. 

Florida Parents Want Children’s Book on Activism Removed from Schools | Tampa Bay Times
Parents in Pinellas County, FL, say The Artivist, which touches on police violence, voting rights, and trans allyship, is too political for young kids.

Tennessee District Board Removes Three Books, Restricts Access for Two in School Libraries | Williamson Scene
The Perks of Being a Wallflower,  Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and Where the Crawdads Sing were effectively banned from all Williamson County (TN) schools after a majority vote on each title. The board also restricted access to Speak to high school students, while The Field Guide to the North American Teenager was restricted to high school juniors and seniors. 

Ohio Teacher Sues After She's Suspended for Having 4 LGBTQ Books in Classroom: Report | MSN
An Ohio teacher is suing her school district after she was reprimanded and ultimately suspended for having books with LGBTQ characters in her classroom. Karen Cahall, an elementary school teacher, filed a federal case against the school board, superintendent Tracey Miller, and board members Todd Wells, Tim DuFau, Robert Wooten, Jonathan Zimmerman, and Amy Story, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.