Call Your Legislators and Urge Them to Support Library Funding in the Michigan FY2026 Budget!

Last week, the Michigan House of Representatives approved an omnibus budget bill, HB 4706, for fiscal year 2026. Now with less than a month before a signed state budget is due, the budget process is entering its final, most critical phase: reconciling major differences in Michigan's budget across Chambers and the Governor’s office. 

Note From Amber

When intellectual freedom makes headlines, it's usually because a library is reacting to a challenge. But the work of protecting the freedom to read doesn't begin when a book is challenged or a policy is questioned. It starts with preparation, strong relationships, and a shared commitment to ensuring every Michigander has the freedom to access information and explore new ideas and perspectives.

That belief was at the heart of the Michigan Intellectual Freedom Summit, where library leaders, trustees, educators, legal experts, and advocates came together in June for two days of conversation, collaboration, and planning. This wasn't designed to be a traditional conference where people listened to presentations and went home. It was a working summit. We asked participants to think deeply about today's challenges, imagine what might be coming next, and help MLA shape a stronger statewide approach to protecting intellectual freedom.