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HB 7680

AN ACT RELATING EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Nathan Biah and 9 co-sponsors

Expands targeted state funding to cover specific education costs beyond core aid, aiming to improve equity and reduce local property tax burden.

04/28/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 7680

Summary of HB 7680 (Rhode Island) — The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act

Session: 2026 | Jurisdiction: Rhode Island

This summary conveys the bill’s main purpose, key provisions, who is affected, and notable timeline aspects. It reflects the text as introduced and circulated for consideration.

1. Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes and expands a framework for targeted state funding aimed at equity in education funding and related costs.
  • Seeks to relieve property tax pressure by ensuring state coverage of certain education costs that are not fully captured by the core foundation formula.
  • Adds and clarifies funding streams for special education, career and technical education (CTE), early childhood (pre-K), regionalization, transportation to public and non-public schools, school resource officers (SROs), and related stabilization needs for specific districts.

2. Key Provisions and Changes

The bill amends Section 16-7.2-6 to specify direct state funding for several categorized programs and costs, in addition to the base foundation aid. Highlights include:

  • (a) Special Education - Excess Costs ( Extraordinary Costs )

    • Defines “extraordinary” costs as those above a state-approved threshold (above four times the core foundation amount, which equals the core foundation instruction + student success amounts).
    • DESE to prorate funds if requests exceed appropriations.
    • DESE to collect data on costs exceeding lower multiples (2x, 3x, 5x) of the core foundation amount.

  • (b) Career and Technical Education (CTE) Costs

    • Supports initial investments for transforming or creating comprehensive CTE programs and pathways.
    • Addresses higher ongoing costs (facilities, equipment, maintenance, supplies) for high-quality, specialized programs.
    • DESE to develop allocation criteria and prorate if costs exceed available funds.

  • (c) Early Childhood/Pre-K Access

    • Expands access to voluntary, free, high-quality pre-kindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds.
    • Aligns with the existing state pre-K model and Head Start collaboration.
    • DESE to work with Human Services’ childcare office and Head Start collaboration office to set criteria for allocating early childhood funds.

  • (d) Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center Stabilization Fund

    • Creates a stabilization fund to address funding gaps in Central Falls due to local-share concerns.
    • Requires sharing of costs outside the permanent foundation formula (e.g., transportation, facility maintenance, retiree health benefits) between state and Central Falls.
    • Transition period outlined; annual review to determine state vs. city share.
    • States possible funding approach via reallocation; post-transition, municipality continues its contribution per existing law.
    • Additional support for Davies and the Met Center due to standalone high school operations.

  • (e) Transportation for Out-of-District Non-Public Schools

    • State funding for costs to transport students to out-of-district non-public schools (per chapter 21.1).
    • State assumes costs for districts participating in the statewide system.
    • Proration if totals exceed appropriations.

  • (f) Transportation within Regional School Districts

    • State funding for excess costs of transporting students within regional districts.
    • Equal state and regional district share of transportation costs (net federal revenue excluded).
    • Proration if total costs exceed funds.

  • (g) Regionalization Bonus for Regionalized Districts

    • Applies to districts regionalized under chapter 3 (including Chariho).
    • Bonus schedule:
    • 1st fiscal year after regionalization: 2% of the state share of foundation aid.
    • 2nd fiscal year: 1%.
    • 3rd fiscal year: cease.
    • Chariho bonus applied to the state share for member towns.
    • Proration if regionalization costs exceed funds.

  • (i) State Support for School Resource Officers (SROs)

    • For FY 2019 onward, provides state reimbursement for 50% of salaries/benefits of qualifying SROs for up to three years.
    • Eligibility rules:
    • 1 officer for schools with <1,200 students; 2 officers for schools with ≥1,200.
    • Officers hired beyond the required level not eligible; and re-staffing that creates new positions not eligible for reimbursement.

  • (j) Funding Structure

    • Categorical programs (a–g) funded under a transition plan described in § 16-7.2-7.

  • (k) Effective Date

    • The act takes effect upon passage.

3. Who Is Affected

  • School districts and regional school districts (including Chariho and Central Falls, Davies, Met Center).
  • Special education students and districts with high-cost special education needs.
  • Students and families benefiting from pre-K expansions.
  • Districts implementing or maintaining CTE programs and pathways.
  • Transportation costs for students to both public and non-public (out-of-district) schools.
  • Municipalities and districts hosting SROs.
  • The state, via DESE and the Department of Human Services, implementing criteria, data collection, and funding allocations.

4. Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Referred to House Finance; hearing scheduled (per action history).
  • Transition provisions manage funding phasing for regionalization bonuses and other programs.
  • Annual proration provisions ensure funding is proportional to appropriations when costs exceed funds.
  • Stabilization funds include annual reviews to adjust state vs. local shares.

5. Effective Date

  • Effective date: upon passage.

Notes:
- The bill updates and consolidates targeted funding streams to address equity and property tax relief through state support of specific education costs beyond the core foundation formula.
- It emphasizes collaboration with relevant agencies for early childhood and program criteria, and includes explicit regionalization and SRO provisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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