Illinois could prohibit school districts, staff from banning books in classrooms

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois became the first state to prohibit book bans in public libraries earlier this year, but state lawmakers could expand the reach of that law by blocking school districts and staff from banning books in classrooms.

"One of the best and unique gifts of American democracy is that we have free access to information," Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) told WAND News. "We can walk into a public library and read about all sorts of topics. We can sit in a classroom and have a curriculum in front of us that has integrity and is not something that is just one viewpoint."

Illinois public libraries are now at risk of losing funding from the Secretary of State's office if they fail to follow the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights. Although, some people are concerned that there is a loophole for school districts or staff members that don't want students to read certain material.

"We have people running for school boards right now in Illinois, the flash point has been Barrington, who are running for office explicitly on a platform of banning books in our schools and in our classrooms," Simmons noted.

The first openly gay member of the Illinois Senate said the country is currently under siege by people trying to prevent students from having the freedom to read and learn whatever they choose. He argues that the state needs to act quickly to address the growing number of parents running for school boards with the intent of banning books.

"We've seen this in American history where people, misguided politicians, will use communities that are different to try to divide folks," Simmons said. "That's literally what's happening with the book banning issue."

His plan could prohibit school districts and staff from limiting access to biographies, memoirs, and other books or materials about race, sexual orientation, reproductive health, gender identity, religion and human rights.

Republican lawmakers believe local elected leaders should still have the ability to express their opinions about books without their school boards and libraries facing penalties.

"Yet again, we find ourselves in this position in the Illinois State Senate where the majority is trampling on the minority and pushing an ideology on Illinois citizens regardless of where they live and regardless of what they believe simply by stripping away local control and taking power away from local elected officials," said Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville).

The change would not restrict school districts from limiting access to books for public safety reasons or based on the age and development of students.

Senate Bill 689 passed out of the Senate on a partisan 35-17 vote in April. Simmons hopes the House will bring his proposal up for a vote during veto session starting later this month. Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) is the lead sponsor of the plan in the House.

"Books are just a way of talking to one another and maybe a way of listening to one another," Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday. "That's more important now than perhaps ever before in American history."

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) argues that the state needs to act quickly to address the growing number of parents running for school boards with the intent of banning books.

Simmons stressed that a growing number of students and advocates across the state want to see his plan passed as soon as possible. A recent study by the American Library Association found 71% of Americans oppose book bans in public libraries. Researchers also said 67% of Americans oppose banning books in school libraries.

"If we were to follow the lead of Ron DeSantis, discussions about someone like me, a person who made history, would not be allowed until college," Simmons said. "I find that to be completely unacceptable and I reject that as the direction that our country should go in."