The House Children Youth Committee on Nov. 1 advanced House Bill 1663, which would add a new article to the Public School Code establishing a statewide Imagination Library program. The committee voted 16–10 to report the bill as committed after members debated program benefits, funding, and opposition from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Committee staff (Danielle) summarized the bill as amending the public school code to establish the statewide program. Representative Khan (presenting remarks on behalf of the measure and noting co-sponsorship by Representative Hambridge) described the program’s model — modeled on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library — that would mail a book monthly to enrolled children from birth through age 5. In testimony cited on the record, a per-child cost of $13 was mentioned as the state share, with the program described as a public-private partnership in which private partners would contribute additional funding.

Several members said they support early-literacy investments but raised fiscal concerns. Representative Barger noted that the Pennsylvania Department of Education registered opposition and that other states (Washington, Indiana, Nevada) have debated or moved to reduce funding for similar programs amid rising costs. Another member voiced concern about how the program would be funded without a state appropriation, questioned how the Department of Education would determine “undue financial hardship” for local partners, and cited a possible fiscal impact in the range of $5 million to $6 million depending on enrollment and administrative costs such as postage and book production.

On a roll-call vote the ayes were 16 and the nays were 10; the bill was reported as committed. The committee record lists the Department of Education as opposed and notes public-private partnership framing and per-child cost estimates; the committee did not appropriate funds during the session and directed no specific implementation assignment at this stage.