Ohio Libraries urge patrons to contact Governor DeWine, asking him to veto a new law in House Bill 96 that will limit free and open access to materials.
The Conference Committee for the State Budget (House Bill 96) issued their final report Wednesday.
All the proposed changes and provisions impacting public libraries remain, from funding cuts to segregating select library materials from the collection.
The budget includes a $25 million reduction in funding to the Public Library Fund (PLF), dropping total state support from $504.6 million in FY25 to $479.7 million in FY26. This decrease is the result of a shift to a fixed line-item appropriation and the addition of $10.3 million in annual transfers to support state agencies and other organizations, money that will be diverted directly from local public libraries.
The most concerning provision is the threat to Intellectual Freedom
The budget includes language requiring public libraries to “place materials related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in a portion of the public library that is not primarily open to the view of persons under the age of eighteen.” At MCDL we recognize the best people to make decisions on the materials children read, watch, or listen to are their own parents and guardians. MCDL supports all families in the community by providing a wide variety of options. Not every item in the library collection is appropriate for every family, but we honor the right of parents to make those choices. Intellectual Freedom is a Core Belief at MCDL. "We believe all people have the right to free and open access to information that spans the range of current and past knowledge and philosophies."
Ohio Public Libraries believe local control serves patrons well.
- Public libraries already have policies in place for collection development
- Libraries do not act “in loco parentis” – we do not act in the place of parents or guardians. Parents and guardians play an important role in what their children are reading and MCDL offers options to limit borrowing privileges for children.
- The bill language is overly broad, vague and confusing, making it difficult for libraries to apply the law fairly or consistently.
- The bill raises legal concerns about censorship and access to information.
- The provision in HB 96 has no financial impact on the state’s balance sheet. It does not lower the state tax burden on Ohio residents, but it could force local libraries to spend substantial resources complying with an unfunded, unconstitutional mandate.
What can you do? Respectfully urge Governor DeWine to veto this provision related to library materials. The budget deadline is Mon., June 30, so contact him today!
Governor Mike DeWine
Main Line: (614) 466-3555
Governor’s Hotline: (614) 644-4357 https://governor.ohio.gov/contact
Additional information on HB 96 materials provision
Take Action - Contact the Governor
Article from Ohio Library Council 6/25/25