Education

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 8603: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- OPERATORS' AND CHAUFFEURS' LICENSES

HB 8603 amends Rhode Island driver education laws to exempt individuals in foster or adoptive homes from paying tuition fees for driver's education classes at the Community College of Rhode Island. This financial relief is funded by the Department of Children, Youth and Families and applies specifically to eligible youth receiving foster caregiving as defined by state regulations. The bill does not alter the existing curriculum, which includes instruction on alcohol and drug effects, distracted driving, and marijuana impairment, but rather removes the cost barrier for this specific group of students. By waiving enrollment fees, the legislation aims to ensure that foster and adoptive youth have equal access to the required thirty-three hours of classroom instruction needed to obtain a driver's license.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill removes tuition barriers for foster youth driver education, expanding access to essential training and providing financial relief.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 7481: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

Requires the department of elementary and secondary education and DOH to adopt policies, rules and regulations for the administration of seizure rescue medications for children who have been medically identified as having epilepsy/seizure disorder.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires health protocols for seizure medications in schools, directly protecting student safety and well-being in educational settings.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates policies for administering seizure rescue medications to students with epilepsy, improving access to healthcare services in schools for a specific medical condition.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 18, 2026

SB 2182: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- OPERATORS' AND CHAUFFEURS' LICENSES

SB 2182 removes the fee for drivers education classes at Rhode Island's community colleges for youth living in foster or adoptive homes. This directly affects young people in these care settings who would otherwise pay the standard fee to complete required driver's education. The bill's key provision exempts these individuals from the fee requirement, making the program more accessible. This change reduces a financial barrier to obtaining driver's education, which is a prerequisite for a driver's license in Rhode Island.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves fees for foster/adoptive youth to access driver's education, expanding educational access for vulnerable students.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 18, 2026

SB 2350: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

Requires the department of elementary and secondary education and DOH to adopt policies, rules and regulations for the administration of seizure rescue medications for children who have been medically identified as having epilepsy/seizure disorder.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires school health policies for seizure medication access, directly enhancing student safety and well-being in K-12 settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires policies for administering seizure rescue meds to students with epilepsy, directly improving access to critical healthcare services in schools.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 7415: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bars the council from granting approval to create or expand a charter school beginning operations in 26-27 school year and bars the state from approving or appropriating funds to a new charter school not approved before July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBars state from appropriating funds to new charter schools, restricting budget allocation for expansion per bill's explicit language on funding restrictions.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill explicitly restricts new charter school approvals and defunds expansion, limiting educational options and access per charter school provisions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Education

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 12, 2026

SB 3087: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THE CITY BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $25,000,000 BONDS, NOTES AND/OR OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS THEREFOR

Authorizes the City of Central Falls to issue bonds and notes in an amount not exceeding $25,000,000 to finance the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair furnishing and equipping of schools and school facilities in the city.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $25M in bonds to fund school construction and renovation, directly increasing public education infrastructure funding.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill authorizes $25M in bonds to finance construction, renovation, and improvement of schools and school facilities, directly strengthening school infrastructure.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 12, 2026

HB 8300: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THE CITY BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $25,000,000 BONDS, NOTES AND/OR OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS THEREFOR

Authorizes the City of Central Falls to issue bonds and notes in an amount not exceeding $25,000,000 to finance the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair furnishing and equipping of schools and school facilities in the city.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $25M in bonds to fund school construction and renovation, directly increasing public service funding and infrastructure investment.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill authorizes $25M in bonds to finance construction, renovation, and improvement of schools and school facilities, directly supporting school infrastructure and educational access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 10, 2026

HB 8129: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- FEDERAL AID

Ends transaction fees for school lunches in all districts. This act requires at least one no-fee payment method for school lunches and a full disclosure whether fees will be charged by a payment platform.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnds transaction fees for school lunches, improving access to meal programs and reducing financial barriers for students in K-12 education.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 10, 2026

SB 2635: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- FEDERAL AID

Ends transaction fees for school lunches in all districts. This act requires at least one no-fee payment method for school lunches and a full disclosure whether fees will be charged by a payment platform.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnds transaction fees for school lunches, preserving existing funding for K-12 programs by preventing fee deductions from meal payments.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 10, 2026

SB 2079: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

Expands the requirement that all high schools and middle schools, whether they are publicly or privately run to maintain on site a functional AED while establishing and implementing a cardiac emergency response plan in these schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AEDs and cardiac response plans in all K-12 schools, enhancing student safety infrastructure per education topic description.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education