Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H8389: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND (Establishes the framework to create a medical school at the Universi
Status: Failed, April 30, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND (Establishes the framework to create a medical school at the University of Rhode Island and provides an initial appropriation of five million dollars ($5,000,000) as the first phase of a multi-year investment for the development of a medical school.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, April 1, 2026:
2026 -- H 8389 ======== LC006231 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND Introduced By: Representatives Fogarty, Carson, Tanzi, Caldwell, McEntee, Lima, Hull, McGaw, Spears, and Dawson Date Introduced: April 01, 2026 Referred To: House Finance It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. The general assembly hereby finds and declares that: (1) Rhode Island faces an ongoing and worsening projected shortage of physicians and healthcare professionals, particularly in primary care and underserved communities; (2) Establishing a medical school at the University of Rhode Island would strengthen the state's healthcare workforce pipeline, improve access to care, and support long-term economic development; and (3) An initial state investment is necessary to support leadership recruitment, faculty hiring, accreditation planning, and curriculum development for such medical school. SECTION 2. Chapter 16-32 of the General Laws entitled "University of Rhode Island [See Title 16 Chapter 97 -- The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 16-32-43. University of Rhode Island medical school -- Establishment and funding. (a) For fiscal year 2027, the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) is hereby appropriated from general revenues to the University of Rhode Island for the purpose of initiating the establishment of a medical school. …
Sponsors
- Kathleen Fogarty (D, HD-035) · primary sponsor
- Lauren Carson (D, HD-075)
- Teresa Tanzi (D, HD-034)
- Justine Caldwell (D, HD-030)
- Hagan McEntee, Carol (D, HD-033)
- Charlene Lima (D, HD-014)
- Raymond Hull (D, HD-006)
- McGaw, Michelle (D, HD-071)
- Tina Spears (D, HD-036)
- Matthew Dawson (D, HD-065)
Latest actions
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House Finance
Subjects: EDUCATION
Common questions
- What is H8389?
- H8389 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND (Establishes the framework to create a medical school at the Universi.
- What does H8389 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND (Establishes the framework to create a medical school at the University of Rhode Island and provides an initial appropriation of five million dollars ($5,000,000) as the first phase of a multi-year investment for the development of a medical school.)
- What is the status of H8389?
- Failed as of April 30, 2026. Latest action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study (April 30, 2026).
- Who sponsored H8389?
- Kathleen Fogarty (D, HD-035), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H8389?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8389.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.