Committee approves state match for Imagination Library; debate centers on costs and administration
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The Senate Education Committee on Jan. 15 voted 4–1 to advance Senate File 14, which would create a statewide Wyoming Imagination Library program to send a free book each month to registered children from birth through age 5 and provide a 50% state match to local partners for book and mailing costs.
Representative Yen, a bill sponsor, said the program partners with an existing nonprofit model — commonly operated in the U.S. by the Dollywood Foundation — and aims to expand local county-level affiliates into a coordinated statewide effort. "Every single month, starting at birth, they get a book at no cost to the family," Representative Yen told the committee.
Samuel Wolf, testifying for the Imagination Library, said the program already reaches about 7,000 Wyoming children, "which is about 22% of the total eligible population." He described the typical funding model: local partners cover book-and-mailing costs while the foundation manages content, fulfillment and overhead. The bill as introduced included a $320,000 appropriation to a program account; witnesses and committee members discussed how much of that amount would go to books versus administrative costs.
Testimony in support came from county and literacy organizations and local library partners; opposition testimony came from a parent advocacy group that opposed using general-fund dollars for the program and expressed concerns about book selection. "It is not the state's responsibility to pay for it," said Patricia McCoy of Moms for Liberty (Laramie County), who also asked how the program would ensure the books were "appropriate" for children.
Committee debate focused in part on drafting to ensure the appropriation flows through state accounting in a way that avoids constitutional concerns about funding private entities. Senator Scott proposed and the committee adopted clarifying language to direct the $320,000 appropriation "from the general fund to the Wyoming Department of Education account created in section 1 of this act," while preserving authority to accept grants and donations for the program.
Members also questioned program administration and staffing. Samuel Wolf said the foundation typically negotiates book production and fulfillment and that the foundation proposed hiring a state director as an employee of the foundation; witnesses discussed different fiscal-impact assumptions: the foundation cited a potential full-time state-director cost near $125,000, while the Department of Education's fiscal note contemplated a half-time contractor at about $40,000.
Senator Brandon recorded a no vote and explained his opposition was primarily fiscal: he called the program beneficial but said he did not think state general-fund dollars were the right priority at this time. The measure passed the committee 4–1 and will be carried to the Senate floor by a volunteer sponsor.
Why it matters: The program would expand access to monthly books for pre-kindergarten children across Wyoming and requires local matches for operating costs. The committee-approved amendment clarifies the appropriation's placement in state accounting and preserves the department's role in administering the program account.
Representative Yen, a bill sponsor, said the program partners with an existing nonprofit model — commonly operated in the U.S. by the Dollywood Foundation — and aims to expand local county-level affiliates into a coordinated statewide effort. "Every single month, starting at birth, they get a book at no cost to the family," Representative Yen told the committee.
Samuel Wolf, testifying for the Imagination Library, said the program already reaches about 7,000 Wyoming children, "which is about 22% of the total eligible population." He described the typical funding model: local partners cover book-and-mailing costs while the foundation manages content, fulfillment and overhead. The bill as introduced included a $320,000 appropriation to a program account; witnesses and committee members discussed how much of that amount would go to books versus administrative costs.
Testimony in support came from county and literacy organizations and local library partners; opposition testimony came from a parent advocacy group that opposed using general-fund dollars for the program and expressed concerns about book selection. "It is not the state's responsibility to pay for it," said Patricia McCoy of Moms for Liberty (Laramie County), who also asked how the program would ensure the books were "appropriate" for children.
Committee debate focused in part on drafting to ensure the appropriation flows through state accounting in a way that avoids constitutional concerns about funding private entities. Senator Scott proposed and the committee adopted clarifying language to direct the $320,000 appropriation "from the general fund to the Wyoming Department of Education account created in section 1 of this act," while preserving authority to accept grants and donations for the program.
Members also questioned program administration and staffing. Samuel Wolf said the foundation typically negotiates book production and fulfillment and that the foundation proposed hiring a state director as an employee of the foundation; witnesses discussed different fiscal-impact assumptions: the foundation cited a potential full-time state-director cost near $125,000, while the Department of Education's fiscal note contemplated a half-time contractor at about $40,000.
Senator Brandon recorded a no vote and explained his opposition was primarily fiscal: he called the program beneficial but said he did not think state general-fund dollars were the right priority at this time. The measure passed the committee 4–1 and will be carried to the Senate floor by a volunteer sponsor.
Why it matters: The program would expand access to monthly books for pre-kindergarten children across Wyoming and requires local matches for operating costs. The committee-approved amendment clarifies the appropriation's placement in state accounting and preserves the department's role in administering the program account.
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