Phil Murphy, a Democrat, signed a law Monday prohibiting public schools and libraries from banning books and protecting librarians who obey state law. “Across the nation, we have seen attempts to suppress and censor the stories and experiences of others,” Murphy said in a statement. New Jersey is the third state to sign a law prohibiting the banning of books at public schools and libraries, following Illinois and Minnesota. The new law is set to take effect in a year from the governor’s signing. However, the state education commissioner and the New Jersey state librarian are permitted to start implementing it immediately “as may be necessary,” the law states.

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Persons: Phil Murphy, ” Murphy, “, Jeenah, Toni Morrison’s “, Maia Kobabe’s, George M, Kevin Dehmer Organizations: New, New Jersey Gov, NBC, Bloomberg, Getty, PEN America, American Library Association, American Locations: New Jersey, New York, . New Jersey, Illinois, Minnesota, ” New Jersey