Right to Read Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Grijalva
Introduced
Summary
Treats school libraries and librarians as core literacy infrastructure and expands federal support to guarantee reading access. It links library access to Title I plans and adds constitutional protections for library use and speech.
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- Students and families: Requires Title I plans to address access to effective school libraries with special attention to low-income students, minority students, students with disabilities, and English learners.
- Schools and staff: Names school librarians as "teachers" for planning and funding, expands state and local uses of funds for digital and information literacy, and provides liability protections for staff acting under right-to-read policies.
- Federal funding and accountability: Authorizes $500 million annually for Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants and $100 million annually for Innovative Approaches to Literacy for FY2026 and the next four years, and directs the National Center for Education Statistics to collect detailed data on library staffing, facilities, materials, and librarian time with teachers and students.
*Authorizes about $600 million in new federal grant funding per year for five years, totaling roughly $3.0 billion and increasing federal spending over that period.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New federal literacy grants and supports
If enacted, the government would authorize two grant streams for literacy. One would provide $500 million for fiscal year 2026 and each of the next four years. A second would provide $100 million for fiscal year 2026 and each of the next four years. States and eligible groups could apply and use funds for early childhood programs, school library supports, hiring and training librarians, and technical help to build effective libraries.
Library data collected every two years
If enacted, the Secretary of Education would require NCES to collect detailed school library data every two years. The data would include library facilities, square footage, staffing, collections, devices, and librarian instructional time. The Secretary would report to Congress within one year and every two years after that. The bill authorizes whatever sums are needed to carry out this data work.
Legal protection for school staff
If enacted, the bill would protect teachers, librarians, school leaders, paraprofessionals, and other staff from personal liability for harm caused while they follow State or local right‑to‑read policies. The protection would apply only when staff actions conform with those policies. The bill also adjusts a related clause so this protection remains applicable.
New definitions for school libraries
If enacted, the bill would add clear definitions for key terms. It would define an "effective school library," "information literacy," and a "right to read." The bill would also expand the definition of "teacher" to include State‑certified school librarians. These definitions would guide how grants and plans are run.
State and district library requirements
If enacted, States would have to show in their education plans how they will stop low‑income, minority, disabled, and English‑learner students from being in schools without effective libraries. Local school districts would have to describe how they will support State‑certified librarians and digital and information literacy. States and districts that get money would also have to assure the Secretary they will protect students' First Amendment rights and follow nondiscrimination rules in school libraries.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Grijalva
AZ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
DelBene
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
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
McGovern
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
Ivey
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
Simon
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
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Pingree
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
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov