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SF0014

Wyoming Imagination Library Program

Last scannedOct 24, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

The bill establishes a program to provide free books for children from birth to five years old in Wyoming.

What it does

  • Creates the Wyoming Imagination Library Program, which will be administered by the Department of Education.
  • Requires the Department of Education to work with a nonprofit organization to give one age-appropriate book each month to eligible children at no cost to families.
  • Establishes that participating counties must contribute 50% of the funds needed for their local affiliate programs.
  • Creates an account to hold money from the state and donations, which will be used to support the program.
  • Requires the Department of Education to make rules about how the program should work.

Who it affects

  • Children aged birth to five years old in Wyoming who are registered in the program.
  • Families with young children in participating counties.
  • Counties that choose to participate by setting up local affiliate programs.
  • The Department of Education and nonprofit organizations involved in running the program.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass, so it will not become law.
  • It only applies if counties choose to participate by setting up local affiliate programs.
  • Details about how the program will work are left for future rules to decide.

Plain language

Terms to know

County based affiliate program
A local group within a county that helps run the Wyoming Imagination Library Program.
Registered eligible child
A young child who lives in Wyoming and is signed up to receive books from the program.

Official record

Sources

Source checked

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 5, 3:53 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill as an inexpensive way to expand existing private efforts, arguing that matching state funds with private donations will improve kindergarten readiness.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:52:18 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because it helps low-income families who lack books at home, citing personal observations and testimony about its positive impact on literacy.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:55:20 Watch the statement

Bill Landen

R · S27

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker expresses hesitation to support the bill, suggesting that existing library programs already serve low-income families and questioning if this money could be better used there.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:56:57 Watch the statement

Tim French

R · S18

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because he is concerned about government partnering with a handpicked private charity and worries that once funded, the program will be difficult to remove from the budget.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:01:30 Watch the statement

Jared Olsen

R · S08

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill as a partnership between government and private sectors, citing data showing increased kindergarten readiness in other states.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:02:31 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker requested a re-referral of the bill to the Appropriations Committee because it involves an appropriation.

Public statementFloor statement at 18:59 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

3 roll calls

Official activity

Bill history

  1. S COW:Failed 6-23-2-0-0Senate
  2. S Placed on General FileSenate
  3. S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 3-1-1-0-0Senate
  4. :Rerefer to S02 - AppropriationsSenate
  5. S04 - Education:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-1-0-0-0Senate
  6. S Introduced and Referred to S04 - EducationSenate
  7. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  8. Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

1 stored

SF0014SS001

The amendment changes where money for the Wyoming Imagination Library Program will be kept.