# 119-s-4028: Open Books, Open Doors Act

119-s-4028, Open Books, Open Doors Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4028
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4028
- Congress: 119
- Title: Open Books, Open Doors Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-09
- Sponsor: Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Education
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Expands access to developmentally-appropriate books in underserved "book deserts."** This bill would create the Open Books, Open Doors Grant Program and a Federal Clearinghouse to boost book access, family reading, and literacy supports across communities. - Families and children would get more books and reading programs through grants for book banks, distribution, family literacy classes, direct mail, and waived library fees. At least 70% of funding would go to grants serving book deserts and community anchors. - Children with suspected learning disabilities and their teachers would see more screening, referrals, and training funding. Fifteen percent of funds would support early screening, intervention, and educator training. - States, libraries, schools, tribal entities, and community groups could apply for grants and get technical help, research-backed guidance, and pilot funding. The bill sets an 8% innovation pool with at least 25% of that for small community groups and requires a 25% non-Federal match that the Secretary may waive.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Annual $100 million program funding: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would authorize $100,000,000 for each fiscal year 2026 through 2031 to carry out the program. The Secretary would be able to request supplemental appropriations if demand for literacy services is higher.
- Federal clearinghouse for book access: benefit, low. If enacted, the Secretary would set up a Federal Clearinghouse on Book Access. The Clearinghouse would collect and rate evidence, list who is served, describe costs, and publish toolkits and training. Materials must follow civil rights rules and be developed with researchers and local partners. Sta…
- Grantee reports to Congress annually: benefit, low. If enacted, the Secretary would submit reports to Congress starting not later than two years after enactment and annually after. Reports would list students served, demographics, assessment or validated literacy scale data, teacher and parent survey responses, books per child before and after, and…
- Interagency literacy working group: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require an interagency working group within 180 days. The group would meet at least twice a year and report to Congress every two years. It would develop a national literacy strategy for birth through young adulthood and coordinate federal programs and messaging.
- New child literacy grant program: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would create competitive grants for states, libraries, schools, tribes, and nonprofits to expand child literacy. Grantees would normally provide a 25% non‑Federal match and meet a maintenance‑of‑effort test. Grant funds would buy and distribute free books, run literacy programs…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act

## Sources
- [119-s-4028 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4028)

## Related
- [119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2120)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2838)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4028 (as of 2026-04-21).