Legislation to put free books in the hands of children across Pa. passes the House
Rep. Liz Hanbidge December 19, 2025 | 1:30 PM
State Rep. Liz Hanbidge, D-Montgomery, introduced legislation earlier this year to create a program in Pennsylvania which would put free books into the hands of hundreds of thousands of children. HB 1663 passed out of the House today by a vote of 116-87.
The Statewide Children’s Literacy Program would mail age-appropriate books to children from birth to age 5, regardless of household income. This legislation would set up a special state fund through the Pennsylvania Department of Education, which can only be used for this literacy program. The cost for the program would amount to about $13 per child.
“Literacy is not just an educational issue. It is a major social determinant of health and long-term economic outcomes,” said Hanbidge. “A small investment per child in early literacy support can only strengthen the significant investment Pennsylvania makes in each child’s K–12 education. Early literacy improves the return on that investment by reducing remediation, improving academic outcomes, and increasing long-term workforce readiness. Nationally, the success of programs similar to this cannot be overstated. “
There are approximately 700,000 children who are eligible for this program in the commonwealth.
“This bill is not just a policy choice. It is a promise,” Hanbidge said. “A promise that every child in Pennsylvania deserves a strong start. A promise that access to books should never depend on the size of a family’s paycheck. A promise that we follow the science and are appropriately investing in programs that matter and will benefit our constituents and economy long term. “
As of 2025, 22 states have enacted laws supporting statewide early literacy programs. Every month, more than 3.2 million children nationwide receive a free book through this initiative. Past studies regarding these programs in other states have indicated that children receiving free books have become more enthusiastic about reading, read more regularly with their families, and are more prepared students by the time they enroll in kindergarten.
The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote.
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CONTACT: Molly Peters
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
Email: mpeters@pahouse.net
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