Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H8351: JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RHODE ISLAND'S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA AND EDUCATION FINANCE SYSTEM (Creates a special joint legislative commission to make a comprehensive study of Rhode Island's education funding formula and education finance system.)
Status: Signed into law, June 22, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, March 25, 2026:
2026 -- H 8351 ======== LC006182 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND EDUCATION FUNDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Cortvriend, Ackerman, Tanzi, Kislak, Ajello, Furtado, J. Brien, Sanchez, and Phillips Date Introduced: March 25, 2026 Referred To: House Finance It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Legislative findings. The general assembly finds that: (1) A high-quality public education system is essential to the prosperity and civic health of the State of Rhode Island; (2) Access to sufficient, equitable, and predictable education funding is a legal and moral obligation of the state; (3) The state's economic vitality depends upon an educated workforce equipped with twenty-first century skills including critical thinking, collaboration, and communication; (4) Inequities in local fiscal capacity and outdated funding mechanisms have produced inconsistent educational opportunities among municipalities and undermined public confidence; (5) All Rhode Island residents have a stake in the success of our state's public schools and students, and there is widespread support among stakeholders for modernizing the state's education funding system to emphasize sufficiency, student-centered equity, and shared fiscal responsibility; and (6) Implementing this framework in statute is necessary to ensure transparency, accountability, and long-term stability in education finance. SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled …
Sponsors
- McNamara, Joseph (D, HD-019) · primary sponsor
- Terri-Denise Cortvriend (D, HD-072)
- Mia Ackerman (D, HD-045)
- Teresa Tanzi (D, HD-034)
- Rebecca Kislak (D, HD-004)
- Edith Ajello (D, HD-001)
- Jenni Azanero Furtado (D, HD-064)
- Jon Brien (I)
- Enrique Sanchez (D, HD-009)
- Robert Phillips (D)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- : Proposed Substitute
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Votes
- House Seq #521: PASSAGE AS AMENDED (June 11, 2026): 64 yea, 7 nay, passed
- House Seq #520: PASSAGE PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT (June 11, 2026): 63 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Finance: Passage of Sub A (June 9, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: EDUCATION
Common questions
- What is H8351?
- H8351 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RHODE ISLAND'S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA AND EDUCATION FINANCE SYSTEM (Creates a special joint legislative commission to make a comprehensive study of Rhode Island's education funding formula and education finance system.).
- What is the status of H8351?
- Signed into law as of June 22, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 22, 2026).
- Who sponsored H8351?
- McNamara, Joseph (D, HD-019), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H8351?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351Aaa.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.