Education

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 5, 2026

HR 7974: JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CREATION OF A STATEWIDE TEACHER HEALTHCARE PLAN

Creates an 11-member commission to study and make recommendations on a statewide teacher healthcare plan, and would report quarterly as of September 1, 2026, and submit a final report by September 1, 2027, and expires on December 31, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates commission to study statewide teacher healthcare plan, directly supporting educator benefits and retention per topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 2434: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- FAILING SCHOOL CHOICE ACT

Permits students at failing schools to enroll in any public school and also established the Rhode Island education revitalization fund to provide funding to the school choice program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes education revitalization fund to provide funding for school choice program, increasing public education spending allocation.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPermits enrollment in any public school for failing school students and establishes a dedicated fund to expand educational access through school choice program funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 7588: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- THUNDERMIST FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY PROGRAM

HB 7588 appropriates $500,000 annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to fund the Thundermist Family Medicine Residency Program in Rhode Island. The bill directly supports training primary care physicians to address healthcare shortages in underserved and rural communities. Key provisions include funding for resident/faculty recruitment, developing community-focused curricula, expanding clinical training sites in rural areas, and purchasing necessary equipment. The program must submit annual reports to the legislature detailing fund usage, resident outcomes, and impact on healthcare access. This funding aims to strengthen Rhode Island's primary care workforce through sustained state investment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $500k annually for healthcare residency program, directly increasing state budget allocation for public service.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds medical residency program (higher education) with curriculum development and training, directly supporting healthcare education infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds $500k annually for residency program training primary care physicians in underserved/rural areas, directly expanding healthcare workforce capacity and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Primary Care

Track

in committee · Rhode Island · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 7688: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- RHODE ISLAND CHILD CARE FOR ALL ACT

HB 7688 establishes the Rhode Island Child Care for All Act, creating a new Office for Early Learning by June 2028 to centralize and improve the state’s child care system. It directly affects families with young children (by reducing costs to under 7% of income), child care providers (through annual funding to cover costs beyond family fees), and early educators (by requiring wage supplements to match K-12 standards). Key provisions include consolidating child care administration from other agencies, funding providers to expand affordability and quality, and developing a statewide system offering free pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds alongside accessible care for children from birth to age 12. The bill aims to address current market failures by treating child care as a public good, similar to K-12 education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds to reduce child care costs (under 7% income), fund providers, and pay educator wage supplements via new office appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirectly funds early educators' wages to match K-12 standards, reduces family costs for child care, and centralizes early learning system to expand access and support educators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires wage supplements for early educators to match K-12 standards, directly improving compensation for child care workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education Tags Children

Track

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 8170: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT

Restore the rights of school administrators and staff members, who have retired to exceed the ninety-day (90) cap on post-retirement employment and work up to one hundred eighty (180) days during a school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases post-retirement work days for educators from 90 to 180, enhancing employment rights and supporting continued educational contributions by retired staff.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 10, 2026

SB 2649: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RESIDENCE OF CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES -- IN-DISTRICT ACCESS TO OPEN PUBLIC SCHOOL SEATS

Ensures any public school with available seats, after completion of the initial enrollment period for students, shall make all open seats available to other students residing within the same school district.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures public schools offer available seats to district residents, expanding access to K-12 education within the district.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 8159: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Provides that in local education agencies when over 45% of the children have a family income that is at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines, then the student success factor will be 50% by the core instruction per-pupil amount.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly names 'PROPERTY TAX RELIEF' in title and adjusts education funding toward low-income districts, aligning with tax relief and equitable funding indicators.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirects increased per-pupil funding (50% student success factor) to schools with >45% low-income students, advancing educational equity through targeted resource allocation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax School Funding

Track

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7596: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

Exempts from the sales tax eligible school supplies, costing less than $50.00, purchased within one week prior to the commencement of the academic year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts school supplies under $50 from sales tax, providing direct tax relief for families on essential items.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts school supplies from sales tax, reducing costs for families and schools, directly supporting educational access and affordability for K-12.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax State Budget

Track

passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 2524: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS -- STUDENT AND TEACHER CLASSROOM SAFETY

Establishes provisions for student and teacher classroom safety and provides the authority to remove students from classrooms. This act provides for student and educator protections from said removals.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes classroom safety protections for students and teachers, directly advancing educational safety standards without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Teachers

Track

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 22, 2026

SB 2678: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT

SB 2678 increases the monthly minimum retirement benefit paid to spouses, domestic partners, and former spouses of retired teachers. This change directly affects individuals who receive survivor benefits under the teachers' retirement system. The bill raises the minimum monthly payment amount without altering other retirement eligibility rules. It was introduced on February 27, 2026, and referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases government spending on teacher retirement benefits, directly funding a public program through higher monthly payments without tax changes.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases retirement benefits for teachers' families, directly supporting educator welfare and financial security within education policy.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions