Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H8326: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS (Provides that any schools days a public school is closed
Status: In committee, June 9, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS (Provides that any schools days a public school is closed due to a declared state of emergency be deemed excused for purposes of compliance with minimum school days calendar requirements.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, March 20, 2026:
2026 -- H 8326 ======== LC006134 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS Introduced By: Representatives Biah, Read, Speakman, Chippendale, Paplauskas, Potter, Cruz, McNamara, J. Lombardi, and Hull Date Introduced: March 20, 2026 Referred To: House Education It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 16-2 of the General Laws entitled "School Committees and Superintendents [See Title 16 Chapter 97 -- The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 16-2-3.1. School calendar flexibility during declared states of emergency. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule, or regulation requiring a minimum number of school days or instructional hours for public schools in the state, any day or days during which a public school is closed due to a state of emergency declared by the governor of the State of Rhode Island shall be deemed excused for purposes of compliance with the minimum school days calendar requirements, (b) School districts and public schools shall not be required to submit individual waiver requests to the Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education for instructional days missed as a result of a declared state of emergency. (c) Any school day canceled due to a declared state of emergency …
Sponsors
- Nathan Biah (D) · primary sponsor
- Earl Read (D, HD-026)
- June Speakman (D, HD-068)
- Michael Chippendale (R, HD-040)
- Christopher Paplauskas (R)
- Brandon Potter (D, HD-016)
- Cherie Cruz (D, HD-058)
- McNamara, Joseph (D, HD-019)
- John Lombardi (D, HD-008)
- Raymond Hull (D, HD-006)
Latest actions
- : Referred to Senate Education
- : House read and passed
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House Education
Votes
- House Seq #423: PASSAGE (June 9, 2026): 71 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Education: Passage (June 8, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: EDUCATION
Common questions
- What is H8326?
- H8326 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS (Provides that any schools days a public school is closed .
- What does H8326 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS (Provides that any schools days a public school is closed due to a declared state of emergency be deemed excused for purposes of compliance with minimum school days calendar requirements.)
- What is the status of H8326?
- In committee as of June 9, 2026. Latest action: Referred to Senate Education (June 9, 2026).
- Who sponsored H8326?
- Nathan Biah (D), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H8326?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8326.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.