Education

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 7160: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT

Allows teachers, state and municipal employees to retire when they have at least twenty-eight (28) years of active service and their retirement age, when combined with the number of their years of service reaches, the number eighty-five (85).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enhances teacher retirement benefits by allowing early retirement with 28 years service + age 85, directly supporting educator welfare and retention.90% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 7391: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT

Reinstates, for all teachers and state employees who retired after July 1, 2012, their annual cost of living adjustment for retirement plan year 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReinstates cost-of-living adjustments for retirees, requiring state funding and increasing budget allocation for retirement benefits.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationReinstates cost-of-living adjustments for teachers' retirement, directly supporting educator benefits and financial security within education policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Rhode Island · House Jan 15, 2026

HB 7126: AN ACT RELATING TO MAKING REVISED APPROPRIATIONS IN SUPPORT OF FY 2026

HB 7126 is a budget adjustment bill that revises funding allocations for Rhode Island's fiscal year 2026 (ending June 2026). It modifies existing appropriations across state departments and programs, including a significant $83.2 million increase for the Community Learning Center Municipal Grant Program. The bill adjusts funding levels for various state functions - such as Central Management, Information Technology, and public infrastructure projects - reflecting revised budget priorities. It does not create new programs or laws but reallocates existing state funds to support ongoing operations and specific initiatives for the 2026 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases $83.2M funding for Community Learning Center grant program, reflecting revised budget priorities to support public services and state fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $83.2M increase for Community Learning Center Municipal Grant Program, directly funding K-12 support services and educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 10, 2026

HB 7027: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

Expands the requirement that all high schools and middle schools, whether they are publicly or privately run to maintain on site a functional AED while establishing and implementing a cardiac emergency response plan in these schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AEDs and cardiac emergency plans in all K-12 schools, enhancing student safety infrastructure per education policy standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 2213: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

Mandates the use of a soft-shell helmet cover that adds a padded, soft-shell layer to the outside of a traditional football helmet, for students participating in Rhode Island interscholastic league football.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates safety equipment for student athletes in school sports, directly protecting pupils' health and safety within educational settings.85% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 2362: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT

Increases monthly minimum benefit for a spouse, domestic partner, former spouse. Grant a 3.34% COLA for eligible retirees. Provided a modification reducing federal AGI for public pension benefits from the RI employees retirement system.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state funding for teacher retirement benefits and modifies pension tax treatment, directly advancing public spending on essential programs.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases teacher retirement benefits and COLA, directly supporting educator financial security per bill's summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 2028: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

SB 2028 imposes a tiered sales tax on digital advertising services sold within Rhode Island, affecting large digital advertising companies based on their global revenue (2.5% for $100M-$1B revenue, 5% for $1B-$5B, 7.5% for $5B-$15B). The tax revenue will be distributed annually to specific state funds: 10% to public transit (RIPTA), 15% to climate resiliency, 5% to university research, 20% to housing, 10% to school lunches, 20% to municipal resilience, and 20% to the general fund. The tax applies to purchases of digital ads within Rhode Island and takes effect on July 1, 2026. It does not allow companies to add the tax as a separate fee on customer invoices but requires clear disclosure of the amount.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes tiered tax on digital ads to fund public transit, housing, school lunches, and climate programs, directly allocating revenue to state priorities per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates 10% of tax revenue to school lunches, directly funding K-12 meal programs per bill's distribution formula.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates 15% of tax revenue to climate resiliency, directly funding environmental protection initiatives per bill summary.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allocates 20% of tax revenue specifically to housing programs, directly funding housing initiatives without restrictions or opposition indicators.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates 10% of tax revenue to RIPTA (public transit), directly funding transportation infrastructure per bill summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax State Budget Higher Education Public Transit

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died · Rhode Island · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 7023: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COOPERATIVE SERVICE AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS

HB 7023 would have restructured governance for Rhode Island's Urban Collaborative, requiring it to be led by a five-member board of trustees instead of its previous structure. The board would include the Providence superintendent (or designee), representatives from other participating districts, and members appointed by the education council. Key provisions would have transferred state education funding directly to the collaborative (rather than local districts) and allowed it to receive federal aid, grants, and Medicaid revenue as if it were a single school district. This would have affected Providence, Pawtucket, East Providence, Central Falls, and other participating urban school districts collaborating on alternative education programs. The bill was introduced in January 2026 but withdrawn the same month.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects state education funding directly to Urban Collaborative, strengthening its governance structure for school district cooperation.85% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 7116: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM

Requires the department of education to develop and make available for use in all schools a mental health curriculum. School districts would be required to provide four (4) hours of mental health instruction to seventh grade students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health curriculum for all schools, requiring 4 hours of instruction for 7th graders, directly enhancing student programs and curriculum standards in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health curriculum for seventh graders, directly supporting mental health services as part of healthcare education95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Mental Health

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 7456: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Mandates public schools (K-12) have one full-time certified social worker for every 250 students and allocates $2 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for school districts and municipalities to hire additional social workers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $2M in FY2025 budget for school social workers, increasing public service funding per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $2M for social worker hiring with 1:250 student ratio mandate, directly enhancing K-12 student support services and funding.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds school social workers for mental health services, directly advancing student mental health care access per bill's allocation and mandate.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates $2M to hire school social workers, directly funding employment positions in education sector per mandate.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax K-12 Education School Funding Student Health

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