As we approach the 2025 Legislative Session, the future of North Dakota’s libraries, schools, and freedom to read is at a critical point.

At Right to Read ND, we are mobilizing to ensure that every resident of our state, especially our students, retains access to diverse ideas, inclusive collections, and uncensored information. This session, all eyes are on the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck as we advocate for essential protections against harmful legislation that seeks to limit our rights.

Here’s where we are focusing our efforts in 2025:

1. Protecting the Freedom to Read

The core of our mission at Right to Read ND is simple: defending the freedom to read. In the 2025 session, we anticipate proposed bills that could restrict access to certain books or target specific themes and content in our schools and libraries. Such legislation directly threatens intellectual freedom, especially for students, who rely on school libraries to explore diverse perspectives and gain new understandings of the world around them. We stand ready to oppose any efforts to remove or censor books based on their content, and we will work closely with lawmakers to ensure that all North Dakotans retain their constitutional right to access a wide range of information.

2. Supporting Inclusive Collections

We believe that North Dakota’s libraries and schools should reflect the diversity of our state’s communities. Unfortunately, legislative proposals may try to undermine this inclusivity by dictating which types of books and materials should be available in public spaces. Whether it’s content related to gender identity, racial experiences, or diverse family structures, all voices deserve representation. This session, we will advocate for policies that support inclusive collections, ensuring that libraries and schools provide resources for everyone, regardless of background or belief.

3. Defending Public Funding

Public libraries and schools are cornerstones of our communities, providing equitable access to knowledge and resources. However, we anticipate efforts in the 2025 session to defund or destabilize these critical institutions. Defunding libraries not only limits access to books and information but also disproportionately affects underserved communities that rely on public resources the most. At Right to Read ND, we are committed to pushing back against these efforts and advocating for increased state funding to strengthen and expand our libraries and schools. Publicly funded institutions must remain a priority if we want to ensure that every North Dakotan has access to the information and resources they need.

4. Empowering Parents and Educators

Parents and educators play a vital role in guiding children’s education and helping them navigate the world of reading. We believe that decisions about what children should read belong in the hands of parents—not the government. At the same time, we trust the professional expertise of our teachers and librarians to curate appropriate, inclusive, and educational collections for students. During this legislative session, we will work to resist government overreach into classrooms and libraries, ensuring that educators and parents, not lawmakers, make decisions about what is appropriate for students to read and learn.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 Legislative Session will be a pivotal moment for North Dakota’s libraries, schools, and the freedom to read. Right to Read ND is ready to advocate, inform, and mobilize on behalf of all North Dakotans who believe in the importance of intellectual freedom. Our work at the state capitol will focus on protecting our right to read, supporting inclusive collections, defending public funding, and empowering parents and educators to make informed choices for their children.

We encourage you to stay informed and get involved. Together, we can make a difference in the future of North Dakota’s libraries and schools. Visit our Bill Tracker and Policy Positions page for detailed updates on legislation, and sign up to Take the Pledge to show your support for the freedom to read.