States cut funding for Dolly Parton’s child reading program

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which has distributed more than 300 million free books to children under five since 1995, faces an uncertain future in several states after lawmakers cut or reduced public funding over the past year, even as the program vows to continue following Parton's death.

Indiana dropped its funding entirely last year despite more than 125,000 enrolled children and a prior $6 million allocation; Governor Mike Braun's office said the state would instead lean on private philanthropy. Missouri cut its allocation from about $6 million to $2 million and froze new enrollment in July, while Washington cut funding too and Maine's support ended in June.

Officials from Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe's office called the cuts part of 'tough decisions' amid a budget imbalance, while praising Parton's legacy and literacy generally. The Dollywood Foundation declined to comment on state funding specifics, offering only a general statement about continuing Parton's work.

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