Tennessee lawmakers Cameron Sexton and Bo Watson have proposed including full state funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in the state's 2027 budget, which would see the state cover costs currently borne locally by participating counties. If approved, this would make the book-gifting programme fully state-funded across all 95 Tennessee counties, honouring Parton's legacy following her death in August at the age of 80.

The Imagination Library, launched in 1995 and inspired by Parton's father, has given away more than 300 million free books to over three million children worldwide, with nearly 70% of Tennessee children currently enrolled. It currently runs as a public-private partnership in which the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation covers half of book and mailing costs with state support, while local partners raise the remaining half; the new proposal would see the state assume that local share entirely, with the Dollywood Foundation continuing to handle infrastructure, book selection and fulfilment.