# Virginia SJ251: Public school libraries; JLARC to study removal of books. Virginia SJ251, Public school libraries; JLARC to study removal of books., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mamie E. Locke (Democratic); status adopted, last action 2025-02-20 (Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ251ER)) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SJ251-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SJ251 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Public school libraries; JLARC to study removal of books. - Status: adopted - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2024-12-31 - Last action: 2025-02-20, Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ251ER) - Sponsor: Mamie E. Locke (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 4 (107 yes, 47 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Study; JLARC; public school libraries; removal of certain books; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study the removal of books from public school libraries in the Commonwealth between July 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024, on the basis of such books containing sexually explicit content or other content deemed objectionable for the purpose of identifying each book removed and, for each book removed, (i) the purported reason for its removal, (ii) the processes and procedures by which each book was identified as containing content necessitating its removal and for removing each book, and (iii) whether applicable state law directing the Department of Education to adopt model policies and each school board to adopt policies consistent with such model policies was used by any school division to justify the identification, removal, or process and procedures by which each book was identified or removed. The bill requires JLARC to complete its meetings by August 1, 2025, and directs the chairman to submit an executive summary of its findings and recommendations by October 1, 2025. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Mamie E. Locke (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-02-20 | House | Agreed to by House | pass | 55 | 43 | | | 2025-02-17 | House | Reported from Rules with substitute | pass | 14 | 4 | | | 2025-01-27 | Senate | Reading waived Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2025-01-24 | Senate | Reported from Rules with amendments (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | ## Actions (20) - 2025-02-20: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ251ER) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Agreed to by House (55-Y 43-N) (House) - 2025-02-20: Rules Substitute rejected (House) - 2025-02-20: Taken up (House) - 2025-02-17: Committee substitute printed 25107606D-H1 (House) - 2025-02-17: Reported from Rules with substitute (14-Y 4-N) (House) - 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on Rules (House) - 2025-01-29: Agreed to by Senate by voice vote (Senate) - 2025-01-29: Read third time (Senate) - 2025-01-28: Printed as engrossed 25101466D-E (Senate) - 2025-01-28: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate) - 2025-01-28: Rules Amendments agreed to (Senate) - 2025-01-28: Reading of amendments waived (Senate) - 2025-01-28: Read second time (Senate) - 2025-01-27: Reading waived Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-01-27: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-01-27: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-01-24: Reported from Rules with amendments (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2024-12-31: Referred to Committee on Rules (Senate) - 2024-12-31: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25101466D (Senate) ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2025-02-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066342.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066341.PDF) - Substitute, 2025-02-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054109.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054283.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054108.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054282.PDF) - Engrossed, 2025-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1031379.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1031378.PDF) - Amendment, 2025-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1028909.HTML) - Introduced, 2024-12-31: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012153.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012152.PDF) ## Related bills - HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted) - SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed) - HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed) - HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed) - SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed) - HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor) ## Sources - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066342.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066341.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054109.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054283.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054108.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054282.PDF) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1031379.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1031378.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1028909.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012153.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012152.PDF) ## Related - [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025) - [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025) - [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025) - [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025) - [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025) - [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SJ251-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).