SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5961
As of January 13, 2026
Title: An act relating to transferring the imagination library program from the department of children, youth, and families to the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
Brief Description: Transferring the imagination library program from the department of children, youth, and families to the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
Sponsors: Senator Wilson, C.; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/15/26.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Transfers the Imagination Library of Washington Program from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Staff: Ailey Kato (786-7434)
Background:

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. In 1995, Dolly Parton launched the Imagination Library, which mails a book each month free of charge to children under the age of five, starting in Tennessee. The Imagination Library is currently located in five countries and is supported through funding shared by the Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and local community partners in those countries. Local affiliates can be businesses, school districts, small or large organizations, or individuals.

 

The Dollywood Foundation covers overhead and administrative expenses, including negotiating wholesale pricing for the books and coordinating the monthly mailings. Local affiliates and partners are responsible for enrolling children who live in the geographical area, promoting their local programs, and covering the costs of the books and shipping fees. Books are free to enrolled children and their families, regardless of income. The age-appropriate books are selected by early childhood literacy experts.

 

Washington's Imagination Library Program. In 2022, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), in coordination with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), was directed, subject to appropriations, to select a Washington State-based qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to create and operate the Imagination Library of Washington Program. The selected nonprofit organization must establish local affiliate programs across the state.

 

The selected nonprofit organization must submit an annual report to the Legislature and the Governor including the number of affiliate programs, the number of children enrolled in each affiliate program, and the number of children enrolled statewide.

 

The selected nonprofit organization must provide payment to the national nonprofit foundation that equals 50 percent of the cost to provide books to eligible children enrolled in the program. Each local affiliate program must provide payment that equals the remaining cost to provide books to eligible children enrolled in the program. Eligible children means children from birth to age five.

 

Nothing requires that state funding be provided to the selected nonprofit organization or the program. DCYF may seek and accept gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources for the program and may spend any gifts, grants, or endowments or income from public or private sources on the program according to their terms.

 

The state operating budget appropriated state funding of $1 million in fiscal year 2024 and $1.5 million in fiscal year 2025, one-time, for the program.
Summary of Bill:

The Imagination Library of Washington program is transferred from DCYF to OSPI.
Appropriation: The bill contains a section or sections to limit implementation to the availability of amounts appropriated for that specific purpose.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 8, 2026.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.