Bill
SB 1506
Illinois now offers a Dolly Parton Imagination Library license plate, with fees funding The Dollywood Foundation to support the program in Illinois.
Status and context
- Jurisdiction: Illinois (amendment to the Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5).
- Introduced: Feb 4, 2025 (Sen. Paul Faraci).
- Enactment: Passed by the General Assembly and enacted as Public Act (SB1506). Legislative records indicate final adoption and enactment in spring–early summer 2025 with an effective date set for September 1, 2025.
- Note: The supplied document bundle also contains text from unrelated legislation (an Arizona Department of Corrections reporting provision). The specialty-plate provisions below reflect the Illinois Vehicle Code language added by SB 1506.
Purpose
- To authorize and establish a new optional special vehicle registration plate — the "Dolly Parton Imagination Library" license plate — and to direct certain fees from issuance and renewals to The Dollywood Foundation to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Illinois.
Key provisions
- New statute: Adds Section 3-699.26 to the Illinois Vehicle Code authorizing “Dolly Parton Imagination Library” special registration plates.
- Eligibility/vehicle class: Plates may be issued for passenger vehicles (language references passenger vehicles/second division vehicles weighing not more than 8,000 pounds).
- Design and personalization: Plate design and color are at the Secretary of State’s discretion. The Secretary may permit these plates as vanity or personalized plates and will prescribe stickers/decals as required.
- Application and documentation: Applicants must submit forms and documentation in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State and pay applicable fees.
- Fees and distribution:
- Initial issuance: Additional $35 fee (on top of regular registration). Of that $35, $25 is distributed to The Dollywood Foundation and $10 is deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund to help defray administrative processing costs.
- Renewal: For each registration renewal period, an additional $25 fee (in addition to normal registration fees) is charged and distributed to The Dollywood Foundation for use by the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Illinois (operational costs, including book distribution).
- Administrative use: A portion of the initial fee ($10) goes to the Secretary of State fund to defray processing/administrative costs.
Who is affected
- Vehicle owners who choose to purchase this specialty plate (will pay the additional one-time and recurring fees).
- The Secretary of State (administers issuance, collects administrative fee portion, controls plate design and program rules).
- The Dollywood Foundation / Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Illinois (receives dedicated funding from plate fees to support program operations and book distribution).
Procedural / timeline notes
- Applicants will apply through the Secretary of State according to procedures established by that office.
- Fees are collected at issuance and renewal; distributions occur as specified by statute.
- Effective date recorded in legislative actions: September 1, 2025 (check the enacted Public Act for the definitive effective date and implementation timeline).
Fiscal/operational impact (summary)
- Modest revenue flow to The Dollywood Foundation for literacy program operations via voluntary plate purchases and renewals.
- Small administrative cost recovery to the Secretary of State via the $10 portion of the initial issuance fee.
- Overall fiscal impact depends on number of plate applicants; anticipated to be limited and voluntary.
If you want, I can:
- Pull the exact enacted Public Act citation and confirm the official effective date and implementation instructions from the Secretary of State, or
- Draft a short explainer for vehicle owners on how to apply for the plate once the Secretary of State publishes application procedures.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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