HB1028 is a critical step in defending free expression and ensuring Arkansas libraries remain places of learning and exploration.
Arkansas has a proud tradition of intellectual freedom, rooted in our state’s and nation’s constitutions. Libraries are essential to that tradition, providing access to diverse books, materials, and ideas that inspire and empower. However, recent attempts to impose censorship and restrict access to information threaten this fundamental right.
HB1028 offers a clear path forward. This proposed legislation will repeal a harmful law SB81 (2023) and replace it with meaningful protections for intellectual freedom, including:
- Safeguarding library staff and trustees from undue legal risks.
- Ensuring public libraries adopt policies that prohibit book banning based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
- Restoring Arkansas’s commitment to open access to ideas without fear or interference.
Your voice matters. By contacting your state legislators, you can help ensure that HB1028 becomes law and that Arkansas libraries remain spaces where everyone can read, learn, and explore freely.