Education

died · Rhode Island · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 7024: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COOPERATIVE SERVICE AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS

HB 7024 would have restructured governance for Rhode Island's Urban Collaborative, a partnership of school districts including Providence, Pawtucket, East Providence, and Central Falls. The bill would have required the collaborative to be governed by a 5-member board of trustees (featuring superintendents from participating districts and appointed members) instead of its previous structure. It also outlined specific funding mechanisms, directing state education aid to flow directly to the collaborative and requiring local districts to transfer funds to support its operations. The bill was introduced in January 2026 but withdrawn at the sponsor's request and never took effect.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirects state education aid to collaborative via new governance structure, strengthening resource allocation for participating districts90% confidence

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passed · Rhode Island · House May 1, 2026

HB 7032: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- STUDENT COMPUTER DEVICE PRIVACY

Prohibits an educational institution or school district from accessing or using location data for tracking a student's institutional device or personal device, except in limited circumstances.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits schools from tracking student devices, protecting student privacy in educational settings, aligning with educational safety and access protections.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits schools from tracking student device location data, strengthening data privacy protections in educational technology use.95% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HR 7453: JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE, PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION -- RIGHT TO AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION

Amends the constitution to guarantee Rhode Island residents with equal opportunity to receive an education that is adequate, equitable and meaningful and provides judicial enforcement of this provision.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationConstitutional amendment guarantees adequate, equitable education with judicial enforcement, requiring state action to ensure quality and access per bill summary.95% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 19, 2026

SB 2226: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Provides that a student's enrollment in Medicaid would be included in calculating and determining the student success factor for use in the foundation education-aid formula.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill title explicitly includes 'Property Tax Relief,' directly aligning with tax reduction support in Budget & Taxes category.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill includes Medicaid enrollment in foundation education-aid formula's student success factor, increasing funding for schools serving low-income students to advance educational equity.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding Student Financial Aid Student Health

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 2026: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX

SB 2026 amends Rhode Island's personal income tax code to allow residents to subtract contributions to the state's tuition savings program from their federal adjusted gross income. This deduction is capped at $500 per individual or $1,000 for joint filers, and only applies to contributions made directly by the account participant. The bill specifically excludes transfers, rollovers, or changes of beneficiary from counting toward this deduction. It directly affects Rhode Island residents who contribute to the state's tuition savings program (Section 16-57-6.1), providing a limited tax benefit for education savings. The policy change would take effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax relief via personal income tax deduction for tuition savings contributions, reducing taxable income for eligible residents.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax deduction for tuition savings program contributions, supporting higher education affordability and access by incentivizing college savings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Higher Education

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 19, 2026

SR 2030: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF APPROXIMATELY $30,000,000 TO RHODE ISLAND'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS

This bill appropriates $30 million ($100,000 per school) to Rhode Island's public schools for safety and security improvements. It directly affects all 300+ public schools in the state by funding specific upgrades like access control systems, audio-visual equipment, and communication technology. The resolution authorizes the state controller to distribute these funds from capital construction funds in the 2026-2027 budget. It does not create new requirements but allocates existing resources for targeted safety enhancements. The funding is intended to address school safety needs following national trends in school security.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $30M for school safety infrastructure upgrades (access control, tech) across all RI public schools, directly funding K-12 safety improvements per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 3, 2026

HB 7418: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY

HB 7418 would establish medical and dental schools at the University of Rhode Island, authorizing the conferral of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degrees. The bill requires the schools to seek accreditation from medical (LCME) and dental (CODA) bodies and mandates clinical training partnerships with hospitals and health centers. It also allows the university to retain revenue from faculty practice plans to support educational, clinical, and research activities. The legislation directly affects Rhode Island residents by aiming to expand healthcare workforce capacity and improve access to care, particularly for underserved communities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates new medical/dental schools at URI, authorizing degrees and requiring accreditation; allows revenue retention to support education, advancing higher education access and quality.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates medical/dental schools to train healthcare professionals, directly advancing workforce development for healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Healthcare Workforce

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 7341: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS

HB 7341 requires school districts that send students to regional vocational schools for career and technical education (CTE) or pathways programs to receive regular updates on student progress from the receiving district, starting July 1, 2026. It mandates quarterly reports or immediate updates for significant changes, such as a student leaving the program. The bill also adjusts costs: if the receiving district’s program costs less than the home district’s per-pupil spending, the home district only pays the lower cost, and transportation costs are limited to actual expenses. This applies to all students enrolled in approved CTE or pathways programs outside their home district.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates quarterly reporting on student progress in CTE programs to ensure accountability and program effectiveness, strengthening educational access and oversight in vocational pathways.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education

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in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Jan 23, 2026

SB 2229: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL FUNDS AND PROPERTY

SB 2229 requires all Rhode Island school buildings to meet "zero energy capable" standards by December 31, 2037, meaning they must generate as much renewable energy as they consume annually. The Department of Education must develop regulations by June 30, 2027, to implement these standards, which align with the Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools (NE-CHPS) guidelines. The bill ensures local school districts can access state/federal funding for energy projects without penalties or reduced housing aid, and provides guidance for using federal tax incentives for solar installations. This applies to all new school construction and major renovations, directly affecting public schools across Rhode Island.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires school buildings to meet energy efficiency standards with funding access, improving infrastructure and reducing long-term operational costs for schools.92% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires schools to meet zero-energy standards using renewables, mandates regulations aligning with clean energy guidelines, and ensures funding access for energy projects.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates schools to achieve zero energy standards using renewable energy, directly reducing emissions and advancing clean energy infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar

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signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 7003: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

HB 7003 requires Rhode Island's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Rhode Island Interscholastic League to create a statewide anti-hazing policy for student athletics. The policy must define hazing, prohibit "consent" as a defense, and include clear consequences like team suspensions or season cancellations for violations. All student-athletes in RIIL schools must sign an acknowledgment form confirming they understand these penalties before participating in any athletic activities. The policy aims to ensure consistent, transparent discipline and integrate with existing school climate and anti-bullying efforts across all participating schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires statewide anti-hazing policy with strict consequences to protect student-athletes' health and safety in schools, advancing educational safety standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety