Provides for the use of rooms within a public school at a reasonable rate
This bill amends education law to require public school boards to set reasonable rental rates for non-school uses of school rooms (e.g., community groups, after-school programs), ensuring rates cover actual operational costs. It prohibits excluding district children from these spaces solely because they don’t attend the specific school hosting the activity. The law applies to all public school rooms used for community purposes, clarifying that attendance at the hosting school cannot be a barrier. School boards must establish these terms under the revised legal framework.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Assembly Passage
Governor
Introduced May 30, 2025
Last action May 28, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
S8288
→
S8288A
·
2 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to change the fee structure for community organizations renting school rooms from a 'nominal fee' to a 'reasonable rate.' Additionally, the bill's procedural status was updated to reflect that it has been amended and recommitted to the Education Committee. These changes allow school boards more flexibility to set rental fees that better cover expenses while maintaining the requirement that fees must be reasonable.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding fee-setting authority was broadened by replacing the specific 'nominal fee' requirement with a more flexible 'reasonable rate' standard.
FISCAL
Changed the required rental fee for community organizations from a 'nominal fee' to a 'reasonable rate' to provide school boards with greater flexibility in covering expenses.
TECHNICAL
Updated the bill's header and procedural text to reflect that it has been amended and recommitted to the Education Committee.
Floor votes · Senate May 28, 2026
How they voted
60–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 63
May 28, 2026
D
Democratic41
97% Yea
R
Republican22
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
10
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Amendments
2
May 28, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
lower
May 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
upper
Jun 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 8288A
upper
Jun 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO EDUCATION
upper
May 30, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Roxanne Persaud
DDemocratic
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