HR8235Referred to Committee

Books Save Lives Act

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Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2026-04-09
Introduced
18
Cosponsors
HR
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Ayanna Pressley
Ayanna Pressley
Democrat · MA · Representative
Votes with party: 96.5% (592 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/P000617

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (18)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

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.

2026-04-09

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

Currently in

Previously

Plain-English Summary

The bill aims to support reading and book access as a way to improve public health and well-being, likely through funding or programs that promote literacy and book availability in schools, libraries, and communities. It has been sent to two congressional committees for review, suggesting it may involve education policy, legal questions about intellectual property or library regulations, or both. The specific details of how it would accomplish these goals are still being determined by lawmakers.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

Subjects

Arts, Culture, Religion

Full Bill Text

Verbatim text published on Congress.gov via GovInfo. Use Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to search within this excerpt.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8235 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8235 To require certain libraries to maintain a diverse collection of books, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 9, 2026 Ms. Pressley (for herself, Mr. Carson, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mr. Frost, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Norton, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Quigley, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Randall, Ms. Simon, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Underwood, and Ms. Velazquez) introduced the following bill; which was 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 _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require certain libraries to maintain a diverse collection of books, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Books Save Lives Act''. SEC. 2. ACCESS TO LIBRARIES AND DIVERSE BOOKS. (a) Access to School Libraries.--A covered school shall maintain a library that is staffed by a trained librarian. (b) Library Book Selection.--Each public library receiving Federal financial assistance and each library of a covered school shall maintain a diverse collection of books, including-- (1) books written or illustrated by an individual who is a member of an underrepresented community; and (2) books about an underrepresented community. (c) Civil Rights Enforcement.--Proof that the exclusion of books from a covered school or library receiving Federal financial assistance has had a disparate impact on covered books shall constitute prima facie evidence of discrimination against a protected class in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), or the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.), as appropriate. SEC. 3. REPORT ON BOOK BAN CAMPAIGNS. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall begin the creation of a report on the effect that recent campaigns to ban books in public libraries and public schools have had on underrepresented communities. SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Covered book.--The term ``covered book'' means a book or an item of educational media written by, illustrated by, or about an individual who is a member of an underrepresented community. (2) Covered school.--The term ``covered school'' means an elementary school or secondary school that is controlled or directed by a local educational agency receiving Federal financial assistance. (3) Elementary school, local educational agency, and secondary school.--The terms ``elementary school'', ``local educational agency'', and ``secondary school'' have the meaning given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). (4) Underrepresented community.--The term ``underrepresented community'' means a group of individuals that share a common identity or characteristic, in cases in which discrimination based on such characteristic is prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), or the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.), including…
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a group of individuals who-- (A) are members of a racial or ethnic minority group; (B) are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or nonbinary; (C) are members of a religious minority group; or (D) have a disability. <all>
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