HB 7909 Rhode Island House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND LITERACY AND DROPOUT PREVENTION ACT

Summary

Redefines dyslexia to mean a specific learning disability characterized by difficulties in word reading and/or spelling that involve accuracy, speed, or both and vary depending on the orthography.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Last action Apr 14, 2026

Floor votes · House Apr 9, 2026

How they voted

65–0

Passed · 9 other

Total votes 74

Apr 9, 2026

D Democratic63

56 Yea 7

88% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican10

8 Yea 2

80% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 14, 2026

Committee

04/14/2026 Referred to Senate Education

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

04/09/2026 House read and passed

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Legislature · Passed

04/02/2026 Committee recommends passage

legislature

Mar 17, 2026

Committee

03/17/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

legislature

Feb 27, 2026

Introduced

02/27/2026 Introduced, referred to House Education

lower

10 primary · 0 co-sponsors