Includes individuals as contributors. Increases annual credit cap by percentage amount of unused credits. Increases the tax credit rate percentage. Establishes scholarships of $750,000 to disadvantaged students and $250,000 to pre-K students.
Converts the Rhode Island Hope Scholarship Pilot Program Act into a continuing scholarship program at Rhode Island College, similar to the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship at the Community College of Rhode Island.
Removes the sunset provision of the Rhode Island hope pilot scholarship program, making it a permanent scholarship program and renames the program as the Rhode Island hope scholarship program.
Establishes a new program where the per pupil funding, calculated annually by RIDE, would be transferred into a newly created educational funding account run by the children's scholarship fund to pay for educational expenses.
Requires any remaining funds in the enacted budget from the RI promise scholarship program or the RI hope scholarship program, after Rhode Island college has satisfied all eligible scholarships to be reimbursed to onward we learn.
Allows Rhode Island employers can help pay employees’ student loans in high-need fields if they work full-time for 2 years in undeserved areas and are in an income driven repayment plan. RISLA must provide annual reporting.
HB 7416 would grant automatic admission to Rhode Island's public colleges and universities (URI, RIC, CCRI) for state residents who earned the Eagle Scout rank (Scouting America) or Gold Award (Girl Scouts of the USA), starting in Fall 2026. Applicants must meet basic application requirements but won't need to satisfy competitive academic thresholds. The law explicitly excludes specialized programs like nursing or engineering from automatic admission (requiring program-specific qualifications) and clarifies it doesn't guarantee financial aid or change residency rules.
SB 2420 allows Rhode Island National Guard members in good standing to use their state tuition assistance benefits for their dependents. Dependents enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) can receive tuition waivers for up to five courses per semester at any Rhode Island state college or university. The program is funded up to $100,000 annually per fiscal year, requires a one-year military service commitment for each 12 course credits used, and mandates that both the Guard member and dependent maintain good academic standing. Failure to meet service or academic requirements may trigger repayment of benefits.
SB 2081 creates a state-funded tuition assistance program for Rhode Island students pursuing teaching careers in critical shortage fields, specifically science and mathematics for grades 7-12. It provides financial support covering tuition and certain non-tuition costs (like transportation or childcare) at Rhode Island colleges, after other financial aid is applied. To qualify, students must enroll in a teaching program in these fields and agree to complete three years of full-time teaching in Rhode Island public or private schools. If recipients don't finish their degree or fulfill the teaching requirement, the assistance converts to a repayable loan.
Prohibits participation in federal school voucher tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations unless both the general assembly and the governor approve such participation.
