From Idea to Implementation: How Education Laws Are Made and How You Can Make Your Voice Heard

When a controversial new education policy makes headlines, like book bans, curriculum restrictions, or changes to what students can learn about history or identity, it’s easy to assume it appeared overnight. But in reality, new laws go through a multi-step process before they become rules enforced in classrooms and libraries.

Understanding this process is critical for parents, educators, students, and community advocates who want to protect public education and fight censorship. The good news? At nearly every step, you have the opportunity to participate, speak up, and make a difference.

This article walks you through how state laws are made and implemented and how you can use public comment periods to influence what happens in your schools.

Step 1: A Bill Is Introduced in the Legislature

Every law begins as an idea. A state legislator, either a senator or a representative, drafts a bill. Bills with the best chance of becoming law have a companion in the other chamber - meaning a bill that is close to or identical to theirs. Bills can be inspired by constituent requests, advocacy organizations, political agendas, or or interest groups. 

For example, many recent “parental rights” or “curriculum transparency” bills started with national lobbying groups pushing a uniform agenda, which lawmakers then copied into local legislation.

Once written, a bill is filed and assigned a number. It’s then referred to one or more legislative committees; this is where the real work begins.

Step 2: Committee Hearings and Amendments

Before a bill reaches the full legislature, it must pass through committees: small groups of lawmakers who specialize in certain areas (like education, judiciary, or health).

In committee:

• Lawmakers debate the bill.
  
  
• Experts and advocates can testify for or against it.
  
  
• Amendments (changes) may be made.
  
  

YOU can get involved here. Most state legislatures allow for public testimony or written comment during committee hearings. This is one of the most powerful opportunities to influence a bill before it gains momentum. Some state government sites may even make it easy for you to track and get alerts when a particular bill is added to a committee agenda, so look for sign up options. If not, either connect with groups that monitor bills you care about or make it a habit to check the site once a day during session.

If the committee votes to advance the bill, it moves to the next assigned committee until it is ready to go to the floor of the full chamber.

Step 3: Floor Votes in the House and Senate

Next, the bill must be debated and voted on by the full House of Representatives and the Senate. Each chamber may suggest changes, and if they pass different versions of the bill, they must reconcile them.

Only once both chambers pass the same version does the bill move forward.

Public participation at this stage is limited, but contacting your representatives by phone, email, or during public comment periods can still influence how they vote.

Step 4: The Governor Signs the Bill into Law

Once the legislature passes a bill, it heads to the Governor’s desk. The Governor can:

• Sign the bill into law,
  
  
• Veto it (reject it), or
  
  
• Do nothing, allowing it to become law automatically (depending on state rules).
  
  

If your governor is still deciding, calls and emails from constituents can make a real impact, especially if the bill is controversial. This year, governors of New Hampshire and North Dakota vetoed legislation that would have had devastating impacts on the freedom to read thanks to public outcry.  

Step 5: State Agencies Develop Rules

Once a law is on the books, it’s not yet ready for local implementation. First, state departments, like the Department of Education, must translate the law into rules and regulations that provide guidance on how it will be applied.

This phase is known as rulemaking.

For example, if a law says “schools must remove inappropriate materials,” the state agency has to define what “inappropriate” means, how challenges are processed, and who makes final decisions.

YOU can comment here too. State agencies are usually required to open proposed rules to public comment for a set period, often 20 to 60 days. Comments can be submitted online, and public hearings may be held. In some instances, departments may choose to hold a virtual “workshop” before publishing a first draft of the rule to gather feedback from the public. This is yet another opportunity to relay any concerns you may have with how the law could be interpreted.

Step 6: Local Governments Create Policies

After state rules are finalized, each local government body, like a school board, must create or revise its own policies to comply. This is the final step where laws become actions in your community.

Local school boards decide:

• How to train staff,
  
  
• What procedures are needed to comply with policy,
  
  
• What materials and forms to use,
  
  
• And how community members can appeal decisions.
  
  

Public comment is often available here too, typically during school board meetings or special workshops. At this stage, you can ask for:

• More transparency,
  
  
• Inclusion of diverse community voices,
  
  
• Safeguards for students and educators,
  
  
• Or clarification of vague or harmful procedures.

In some cases, committees will be created in an attempt to ensure multiple perspectives are considered when creating or amending local policy or addressing specific procedural concerns. These could be district-level committees or school specific. This is another way to get involved. In respect to materials in the classroom and library, keep an eye out for opportunities to serve on the following types of committees: 

• School Advisory Committee (school),
  
  
• Instructional Materials Review Committee (district),
  
  
• Library Materials Review Committee (school or district),

Your Voice Matters—At Every Step

Here’s a breakdown of the public comment opportunities you might have, depending on the state:

Check your state’s legislative and education department websites for specific timelines and procedures. Most have a "Public Notices" or "Rulemaking" section.

Why This Matters in the Fight Against Book Bans and Censorship

In the current climate of book bans, curriculum crackdowns, and classroom surveillance, many policies stem from vague or broadly written laws passed months—or even years—earlier. Often, it’s during rulemaking or local policy implementation that the most harmful interpretations occur.

If we want to protect the freedom to read, the right to inclusive education, and the professional judgment of teachers and librarians, we must show up—not just at the school board level, but throughout the lawmaking process.

For example:

• A bill might not mention book bans outright, but the rules define “inappropriate material” so broadly that classics like The Bluest Eye or Slaughterhouse-Five get pulled.
  
  
• A vague “parental rights” law might not seem threatening—until local policies weaponize it to ban rainbow stickers, silence students, or punish teachers.
  
  

By then, it’s often too late. That’s why early engagement is essential.

Take Action: 5 Steps to Get Involved

1. Track Legislation in your state using tools like OpenStates.org or your state’s legislative website.
   
   
2. Subscribe to alerts from your state legislature, Department of Education, and school district to stay updated on public comment periods.
   
   
3. Speak up at committee hearings and board meetings. Your voice shows lawmakers that real families are watching.
   
   
4. Organize your community to submit comments during rulemaking. A flood of emails or phone calls gets noticed, especially when they include personal stories.
   
   
5. Share your story in op-eds, letters to the editor, and social media to influence public opinion.

Conclusion: Democracy Doesn’t End at the Ballot Box

Laws don’t implement themselves. Bureaucrats interpret them. Local officials enforce them. And if we’re not paying attention, they can be twisted to reflect an agenda that excludes, censors, and erases.

At the Freedom to Read Project, we believe that public education should be inclusive, honest, and equitable for all families, not just a select few.

Understanding the lawmaking process is the first step toward making sure your child’s classroom reflects the values of truth, diversity, and intellectual freedom.

And remember: your voice matters at every step.