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DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
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119-hr-6440119th CongressWALLET
Right to Read Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
Introduced
Summary
Effective school libraries would be elevated as core tools for teaching reading and for building digital and information literacy. The Right to Read Act of 2025 would set rules for planning, funding, data, and legal protections to expand access and protect library rights.
Show full summary
- Students and families: Students would gain broader access to high-quality school library services and instruction in reading, digital literacy, and information evaluation.
- School librarians and staff: Librarians would be eligible for targeted Title II and Title IV funding for staffing and training and would receive liability protections when they follow right-to-read policies.
- State and local education agencies: States and local education agencies would be required to include school libraries in educational planning and to collect and report school library data to Congress.
- Civil rights and free speech: The bill would add First Amendment and nondiscrimination protections for students and educators in school libraries to safeguard access to materials.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More literacy money for school libraries
If enacted, the bill would authorize $500 million per year for FY2026 and each of the next four years for Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants. It would also authorize $100 million per year for FY2026 and each of the next four years for Innovative Approaches to Literacy. Those authorizations would not itself appropriate money. The bill would let those and other literacy funds pay for high‑quality print materials, effective school libraries, technical assistance, and state efforts to recruit State‑certified school librarians in high‑need schools.
Protections for librarians and students
If enacted, teachers, school librarians, school leaders, paraprofessionals, and other school staff would not be liable for harm from an act or omission if they acted in conformity with State or local right‑to‑read policies while working in a school. The bill would also require States and school districts that get money under the Act to assure the Secretary they will protect students' First Amendment and equal‑protection rights in school libraries and provide access to a variety of reading materials consistent with nondiscrimination laws.
Biennial national school library data
If enacted, the Secretary would direct NCES to collect detailed school library data every two years. The data would include library buildings and square footage, counts of State‑certified librarians and other staff, descriptions of print and digital collections, student devices, and librarians' instructional and planning time. The Secretary would report the results to Congress within one year and then every two years, and the bill would authorize such sums as may be necessary to carry out the data collection.
Stronger rules for school libraries
If enacted, the bill would define an "effective school library" and the "right to read." The definition would require at least one full‑time State‑certified school librarian, curated up‑to‑date collections, adequate facilities and connectivity, and teacher collaboration. The bill would also require local plans to say how they will support effective libraries and right‑to‑read policies, and it would add State library agencies and school librarians into early childhood literacy planning.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
MN • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
MA • D
Sponsored 1/8/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/16/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]
MD • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
WA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/13/2026
Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]
AL • D
Sponsored 7/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov