Senate libraries committee advances multiple bills, including ‘Freedom to Read’ and Imagination Library fund

The New York State Senate Committee on Libraries advanced a slate of bills affecting library policy, funding and services during a brief session that concluded with votes on several measures.

The committee, chaired by C. Labaino, reported or carried multiple bills out of committee, including S1099 (the "Freedom to Read Act"), S1100 (library curation and staff policy), S3154A (creation of a statewide Imagination Library fund), S5494 (state aid for library social work services), S5988 (access to employment preparation education funds for adult literacy), S5989 (library cards for minors), and S6870 (a study on public library access to capital funding).

Why it matters: the package covers both policy and funding issues for New York libraries — from rules on collection curation to a proposed state-level fund for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and proposals to expand literacy and social work services in public libraries. Several bills were formally reported or carried out of committee, which advances them in the legislative process.

Votes at a glance

- S1099, sponsored by Senator May, "an act to amend the education law in relation to enacting the Freedom to Read Act." Committee record: voice vote recorded as 4 ayes, 1 nay, 1 not voting. Outcome: approved by committee.

- S1100, sponsored by Senator May, "an act to amend the education law in relation to requiring certain libraries to adopt policies ensuring that library staff are able to curate collections, services, and programming that reflect diverse interests." Committee record: motion and voice vote; the chair stated the vote carries. Outcome: approved by committee (tally not fully specified in the transcript).

- S3154A, sponsored by Senator Cooney, "an act to amend the social services law in relation to creating the Dolly Parton statewide Imagination Library of New York and to amend the state finance law in relation to establishing the Imagination Library of New York fund." Committee record: introduced with the text noting referral to finance; a motion was made and the committee registered ayes. Outcome: reported/referred as described in committee (transcript notes referral to finance).

- S5494, sponsored by Senator Bynum, "an act to amend the education law in relation to state aid for library social work services and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof." Committee record: introduced noting referral to finance; motion and voice vote recorded as ayes; outcome: approved by committee and referred as noted.

- S5988, sponsored by Senator Bynoe, "an act to amend the education law in relation to enabling public libraries to access employment preparation education (EPE) funds to provide adult literacy instruction." Committee record: motion, second and voice vote; the chair said the vote carries. Outcome: approved by committee (tally not specified in the transcript).

- S5989, sponsored by Senator Bynoe, "an act to amend the education law in relation to library cards issued to minors." Committee record: motion, second and voice vote; the chair said it carries. Outcome: approved by committee (tally not specified in the transcript).

- S6870, sponsored by Senator Comrie, "an act to amend the education law in relation to conducting a study on the access of state public libraries and library systems to capital funding." Committee record: motion, second and voice vote; the chair closed the meeting after the vote. Outcome: approved by committee (tally not specified in the transcript).

What the record shows and what it does not

The transcript records sponsors and short bill descriptions, committee motions and voice votes. For S1099 the committee recorded a specific tally (4 ayes, 1 nay, 1 not voting). For the other bills the committee used voice votes and the chair said the vote "carries" or recorded "ayes," but explicit tallies or individual member roll-call votes are not included in the transcript. The transcript also notes that several bills were described as "referred to finance" in their introduction language; the committee’s recorded motions then carried those measures forward.

Meeting context

C. Labaino opened and chaired the meeting. Senators identified in the record include Serrano, Brissport, May, Cooney, Bynum, Bynoe, Comrie, Holloman Siegel and Tedesco. The session was brief on debate; the transcript records motions, seconds and voice votes with little extended discussion on the bills’ merits. The chair concluded by saying the committee’s first meeting of the 2025 session was adjourned.

Next steps

Bills approved by the committee move along the legislative process according to each bill’s referral; several measures were noted as referred to the Finance Committee. Further committee or floor action, fiscal notes or official roll-call tallies (if requested) would appear in subsequent legislative records.