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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky establishes Kids Love to Read Program and appropriates $500,000 for elementary student books
Last action · January 23, 2026: to Primary and Secondary Education (H)Sponsors: Pamela Stevenson and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
Kentucky creates the Kids Love to Read Program to mail free books weekly to kindergarten through fifth-grade students and appropriates $500,000 from the for 2027-2028.
The measure commits state funds to supply direct-to-home books for elementary students, capping total costs at $120 per child annually while requiring a 50% funding match from a selected nonprofit provider.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Kindergarten through grade five students
Children receive one book each week of the school year sent directly to their homes at no cost.
Department for Libraries and Archives
The department is tasked with administering the program, selecting the nonprofit provider, and promulgating regulations.
Nonprofit organizations
Eligible nonprofits can apply to serve as the statewide program provider and must secure matching funds.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to participate in the Kids Love to Read Program?
Where does the initial funding for the program come from?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Jan 23, 2026HouseCommitteeto Primary and Secondary Education (H)
- Jan 15, 2026HouseIntroducedintroduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
apps.legislature.ky.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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