Illinois becomes first state in U.S. to outlaw book bans in libraries: "Regimes ban books, not democracies"

Illinois became the first state in the U.S. to outlaw book bans, after Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday signed legislation that would cut off state funding for any Illinois library that tries to ban books, CBS Chicago reports.

The new law comes as predominantly Republican-led states continue to restrict books some consider offensive in schools and libraries across the country.

"Book bans are about censorship; marginalizing people, marginalizing ideas and facts. Regimes ban books, not democracies," Pritzker said before signing the legislation Monday.