Rep. Pressley Introduces Books Save Lives Act to Protect Diverse Books in Schools and Libraries
To require certain libraries to maintain a diverse collection of books, and for other purposes.
This bill was sent to the House Committee on Education and Workforce and the House Committee on the Judiciary on April 8, 2026. It is currently waiting for these committees to review it, which is the first step in the legislative process. Since nothing has happened since April 8, 2026, the bill is not moving forward at this time.
This bill is led by progressive Democrats and faces strong opposition from the Republican majority. It is unlikely to move forward in the current political environment.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
LGBTQ+ individuals are explicitly included in the bill's definition of underrepresented communities. Libraries and schools would be required to maintain books by and about LGBTQ+ people, and removing those books could trigger civil rights enforcement. This directly responds to recent waves of book challenges that disproportionately targeted LGBTQ+ titles.
“are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or nonbinary”
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Representative Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.) has introduced the 'Books Save Lives Act' to require that libraries receiving federal funding 'maintain a diverse collection of books.' The bill also classifies book restrictions with a 'disparate impact' as a violation of federal civil rights law.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley has introduced a bill that would classify many book bans as violations of federal civil rights laws. The Books Save Lives Act would make the disproportionate exclusion of books that include content on certain populations a violation of laws like the Civil Rights Act.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
To require certain libraries to maintain a diverse collection of books, and for other purposes.
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