Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 18, 2026Result: passed
(60) (0) (0) (3)
Senate bill · S5989 (2025-26)
Relates to library cards for minors
Latest action May 18, 2026
New York State Senate
Summary
Requires school districts to establish a method by which a parent may request a local library card for their minor child on the school registration form.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the Education Law.
From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 19, 2026. About our data
Following needs an Agora account. You will sign in first, then come back to this page.
Your position on this bill
Choose the position closest to yours. You'll sign in or create an account to save it.
Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
The purpose of this bill is to provide families living in the state with a mechanism to register their children for a library card when enrolling such child in school.
Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)
Where it stands
Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
Libraries · New York State Senate
Also referred to Libraries and Education Technology · New York State Assembly.
Cosponsors
Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)- Republican2
Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.
The sponsor's argument
Why Siela Bynoe says this is needed
Libraries are not just repositories of books; they're also vibrant centers of discovery. For children, the library can be a place of excitement and a hub of learning through books, digital materials, and other educational services. Access to a library card from a young age opens the door for enhanced development of literacy and language skills, community engagement, and exposure to diverse perspectives. This bill would provide that upon registration of a minor to attend full time instruction, parents may check a space on such registration author- izing such minor to receive a library card from the respective local library, pursuant to a method established by the regents. In doing so, this small mechanism will allow additional children to explore the vast services and opportunities that libraries have to offer and allow chil- dren the space to expand their interests through the joys of reading.
This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.
Recorded votes
Vote: Committee vote · Libraries
Senate LibrariesMay 12, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 5, 2025Result: passed
(59) (1) (0) (3)Vote: Committee vote · Libraries
Senate LibrariesApr 8, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)
Full history
- May 18, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
- May 18, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
- May 18, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
NY Assembly
- May 14, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
- May 13, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Show full history (11 earlier events)Show less history
- May 12, 2026
1ST Report CAL.1011
1ST REPORT CAL.1011
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LIBRARIES
NY Senate
- Jun 5, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
- Jun 5, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
- Jun 5, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
NY Assembly
- May 28, 2025
Amended
AMENDED ON THIRD READING 5989A
NY Senate
- Apr 10, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
- Apr 9, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
- Apr 8, 2025
1ST Report CAL.651
1ST REPORT CAL.651
NY Senate
- Mar 4, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LIBRARIES
NY Senate