Mass Freedom to Read Advocacy Day is March 10, 2026
Urging lawmakers to advance H.3594, ‘An Act Regarding Free Expression,’ legislation that protects against book challenges and censorship
On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, educators, librarians, authors, students, publishers, booksellers, and civil rights advocates from across Massachusetts will gather at the State House in Boston and online for the Mass Freedom to Read Advocacy Day.
We invite Massachusetts residents to join in online on March 10, 2026!
1️⃣ MA residents: It’s important that your state legislators hear from you about your support for H. 3594 and students’ right to read in Massachusetts. Click below to send a message to your legislators today and help pass this vital bill.
2️⃣ On Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 12:30 pm, go to @nosycrowus to watch our press briefing on Instagram Live from the State House! Nosy Crow is an award-winning children's publisher based in Massachusetts, and is a member of the Mass Freedom to Read Coalition. Thanks to Nosy Crow for hosting our Instagram Live!
3️⃣ Follow along on our Instagram page all day and share our posts with your community and representatives!
Advocacy Day at the State House will include meetings with legislators, a book fair highlighting organizations committed to intellectual freedom, and a press conference calling for legislative action to protect the freedom to read in Massachusetts. The event comes amid growing concern over coordinated book challenges and censorship pressures affecting libraries and schools across the Commonwealth.
Advocates will urge lawmakers to advance H.3594, ‘An Act Regarding Free Expression,’ legislation that establishes clear statewide standards for library and school collection policies and book reconsideration processes, helping prevent politically motivated censorship while reinforcing First Amendment principles. The Massachusetts Senate version of this legislation, S.2696, passed in the Senate in November 2025, and H.3594 must now be voted on by the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
The Mass Freedom to Read Advocacy Day will run from 10am - 4pm in room 437, with a press conference at 12:30pm, and the book fair throughout the day.
The Massachusetts Library Association says: “This bill ensures that library and school boards adopt policies that recognize the right to read and support access to library resources free from doctrinal or partisan influence, allowing trained library professionals to build collections that reflect the experiences and voices of their whole community.”
“Independent bookstores are often the first place that young people discover the magic of reading, and censorship of any kind has no place in this process. On behalf of our member stores in Massachusetts, the New England Independent Booksellers Association stands with our regional and national partners in supporting ‘An Act Regarding Free Expression,'” says the New England Independent Booksellers Association.
The Freedom to Learn Foundation says, “At a time when debates about access to books are happening across the country, H.3594 affirms the Commonwealth’s continued leadership in safeguarding intellectual freedom for students, educators, and communities.”
Coalition members working to pass this vital legislation include American Booksellers for Free Expression, Authors Against Book Bans Massachusetts, The Authors Guild, Beacon Press, Boston Comic Arts Foundation, Candlewick Press, Charlesbridge Publishing, Greater Boston PFLAG, Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth, Massachusetts Library Association, Nosy Crow, PEN America, Penguin Random House, Skinner House Books, and Wondermore.
Press Contact: Gina Gagliano, hello@massfreedomtoread.org