This bill amends the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act to remove a funding requirement from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It establishes specific funding categories for special education costs, career and technical education programs, pre-kindergarten access, and transportation expenses for students attending out-of-district non-public schools or within regional school districts. The legislation also creates stabilization funds for Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center to address local capacity concerns and high school operating costs, while providing temporary bonuses to regionalized school districts. Additionally, it defines and provides state support for school resource officers who complete specialized training in school policing.
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✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes specific funding categories for special education, CTE, pre-K, and transportation, creating stabilization funds for school districts, indicating increased funding for education services.85% confidence
✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes specific funding categories for special education, CTE, pre-K, and transportation, creating stabilization funds for districts, indicating clear intent to strengthen education funding and access.85% confidence
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.
Specifies that pre-k programs for three (3) – and four (4) – year olds be added to programs to increase access to voluntary, free, high-quality pre-kindergarten programs.
Defines a seasonably-habitable non-owner occupied residence, which is not the primary residence of the taxpayer, and which would be exempt from the non-owner occupied property tax.
Prohibits cities or towns that implement a rent control ordinance from raising property taxes and such prohibition would last for as long as the rent control ordinance is in effect.
HB 8006 establishes a special 8% property tax rate for qualifying affordable housing in Rhode Island, instead of standard local tax rates. To qualify, properties must have legal agreements restricting rents to 30% of tenant income for households at or below 80% of area median income (for 40% of units) or 60% AMI (for 30% of units). Conversions of existing non-residential buildings to housing qualify until 2037, with tax rates gradually increasing from 8% to 12% over 30 years. This directly affects property owners of qualifying affordable housing and local governments setting tax policies.
Authorizes the town of Middletown to adopt by ordinance, a veterans’ property tax exemption to any veteran, who was honorably discharged, or discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, regardless of dates or periods of service.
Increases the amount of state aid distributed to the towns and cities through appropriation in lieu of property tax provisions applicable to certain private and state properties that are exempt from property tax.
Authorizes the town of Middletown to adopt by ordinance, a veterans’ property tax exemption to any veteran, who was honorably discharged, or discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, regardless of dates or periods of service.
Changes the assessment for residential property where forty percent (40%) of the dwellings are below eighty percent (80%) of statewide median income and thirty percent (30%) are below sixty percent (60%).
