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HB 7456

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

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Grace Diaz and 6 co-sponsors

Expands state funding and staffing in K-12 to cover excess costs (special education, CTE, pre-K, transportation, SROs) while mandating at least one full-time school social worker p

04/28/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 7456

Summary of HB 7456 (2026) — The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act (Rhode Island)

Intent and Purpose

HB 7456 proposes a broad set of changes to Rhode Island’s education funding framework, aiming to:
- Provide targeted state funding to address specific education costs beyond the standard per-pupil foundation aid.
- Support and incentivize regionalization and career and technical education (CTE), pre-kindergarten expansion, transportation costs, and school safety staffing.
- Improve access to social services in schools by mandating social workers and providing additional appropriations.

The act is intended to operate within the permanent foundation education-aid program and to further reduce local financial burdens while expanding state support for high-need areas.

Key Provisions and Changes

A. Expanded State Funding Streams (Section 16-7.2-6)

HB 7456 enumerates several categories of state-funded expenses beyond core foundation aid, with annual prorating if costs exceed appropriations:

  1. Excess costs for special education

    • Defines “extraordinary” costs as those exceeding a threshold (above four times the core foundation amount, which includes core instruction plus student success amount).
    • Data collection on costs exceeding 2x, 3x, and 5x of the core foundation.
    • Proration when costs exceed available funds.

  2. Career and Technical Education (CTE) costs

    • Supports initial investments for transforming/creating CTE programs and pathways.
    • Addresses higher facility/equipment costs; criteria to be developed by DESE; prorated if over-appropriated.

  3. Pre-kindergarten expansion costs

    • Funds to increase access to voluntary, free, high-quality pre-K; criteria for allocation to be developed by DESE (per General Assembly directions).

  4. Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center Stabilization Fund

    • Creates a stabilization fund to ensure funding for these districts, addressing local-share concerns.
    • Requires sharing of certain aid and non-formula costs (transportation, facilities, retiree health benefits) between state and Central Falls; review annually; transition period with potential state reallocation.

  5. Excess costs for transporting to out-of-district non-public schools

    • State funding for transportation costs for students attending out-of-district non-public schools; prorated if funds are insufficient.

  6. Excess costs for transporting within regional districts

    • State funding for intra-regional transportation costs; requires equal state and district sharing net federal revenue; prorated if necessary.

  7. Regionalization bonus for public districts

    • For regionalized districts (including Chariho), bonuses begin in the fiscal year defined by regionalization date.
    • Bonus: 2% of state share in year 1; 1% in year 2; ends in year 3.
    • Applied to state share for member towns of Chariho; prorated if funds are insufficient.

  8. State support for School Resource Officers (SROs)

    • FY 2019 onward, for up to three years, districts/municipalities receive 50% reimbursement for SRO salaries/benefits.
    • Eligibility tied to officer assignment, school enrollment size, and limits on positions funded beyond requirements or created through this provision.

  9. Other funding mechanics

    • Funds under these categories follow the DESE transition plan if applicable.

B. Social Work Staffing (Sections 16-7.2-6 and 16-7.2-7)

  • Every K-12 public school must have at least one full-time social worker per 250 students.
  • Defines “social worker” as a holder of a valid professional school social work certificate from the RI DOE.

C. Additional Appropriation for Social Workers (Section 16-7.2-6)

  • The General Assembly would appropriate an extra $2,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2026 to enable districts/municipalities to hire additional social workers.

Who Is Affected

  • Public K-12 school districts and regional districts (including Central Falls, Davies, Met Center, and the Chariho regional district).
  • Students benefiting from enhanced special education funding, CTE investments, expanded pre-K, transportation subsidies, and social work services.
  • Local governments and districts sharing costs for stabilization, transportation, and regionalization bonuses.
  • School resource officers in districts choosing to employ SROs.

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • Effective date: Upon passage.
  • The act directs DESE to develop criteria and prorate funding where applicable.
  • Transition planning provisions in § 16-7.2-7 govern funded programs during the shift from existing formulas.
  • The bill is currently in the House Finance committee (as of the latest action history) with a recommendation to hold for further study.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law or a plain-language brief for specific stakeholder groups.

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

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