# Rhode Island H8351: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND EDUCATION FUNDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT . Rhode Island H8351, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND EDUCATION FUNDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joseph M. McNamara (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-22 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8351-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island H8351 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND EDUCATION FUNDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-03-25 - Last action: 2026-06-22, Signed by Governor - Sponsor: Joseph M. McNamara (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 9 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (127 yes, 7 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 11 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - State covers high special‑ed and pensions: benefit, medium. The state pays very high special education costs above four times the statewide average per‑pupil spending. It also pays out‑of‑district transportation and required early childhood screenings. The CEA includes the normal yearly cost of teacher pensions, while the state covers unfunded teacher pensi… - State-paid screenings and more pre‑K: benefit, medium. The state pays for developmental screening and special education services for children ages 3 to 5. RIDE runs a universal screening system and funds its costs. The General Assembly funds Rhode Island pre‑K, and districts can apply for pre‑K grants. - Student-based funding and weights: benefit, medium. Rhode Island now uses a clear, student-based formula to fund schools. Each year RIDE sets a Core Education Amount (CEA) using the regional average per‑pupil cost in RI, MA, CT, and NH and adjusts it by CPI‑U. Schools get more per student when needs are higher: 50% extra for students from households… - On-time school payments; funds follow students: benefit, low. RIDE issues preliminary state‑aid estimates by March 1 and final amounts by July 1 after the budget. State and local payments are made quarterly in July, October, January, and April. Towns and districts cannot hold back or deduct money owed for students in public charter or state schools. Funding f… - Fair school building aid for charters: benefit, low. Charter, mayoral academy, and state‑run schools get school housing aid at the same rate as the towns where their students live. Schools drawing students from many towns get a blended rate. The state cannot reduce any district’s current housing aid to fund others. - New fiscal oversight and help for districts: benefit, low. An 11‑member fiscal board in the Auditor General’s office oversees school finances. It manages a Strategic Education Reserve funded at 1% of the statewide foundation cost and hears one‑year hardship appeals for towns and districts facing extraordinary, unforeseeable events. The board places distric… - No unfunded mandates on schools or towns: benefit, low. Any new law or rule that adds requirements for districts or towns must include a cost estimate from RIDE and the Department of Administration. It cannot take effect or remain in effect without a specific state appropriation to pay the estimated cost. - Transparent school spending and public dashboard: benefit, low. Each district must adopt a public plan tying spending to student goals, report finances using the universal chart of accounts, and get an independent audit. RIDE posts a yearly report by September 1 showing each town’s required and actual local contributions. A public dashboard shows spending, stud… - Penalties if towns underfund schools: cost, low. If a town pays less than its minimum local contribution, the state cuts that town’s aid by twice the shortfall. The town may appeal under the hardship process, but relief lasts only one year without reapplication. - How state aid and town shares work: mixed, medium. Each year the legislature sets the statewide state‑share percentage. A district’s state aid equals its total foundation cost minus the required minimum local contribution. RIDE sets a single local share rate by dividing the statewide local contribution by the state’s certified property value, then… - Phased rollout through FY2030: mixed, low. The law takes effect upon passage. Full implementation must occur by fiscal year 2030. RIDE can phase in changes over up to three fiscal years, with a transition plan that adjusts state and local shares. Existing aid continues during the transition to avoid funding shortfalls, and parts may start e… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Joseph M. McNamara (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mia A. Ackerman (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Edith H. Ajello (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Terri Cortvriend (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jenni A. Furtado (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jon D. Brien (Independent), House - Cosponsor: Rebecca M. Kislak (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Robert D. Phillips (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Enrique Sanchez (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Teresa A. Tanzi (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-11 | House | COMM. EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA PASSAGE AS AMENDED | pass | 64 | 7 | | | 2026-06-11 | House | COMM. EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA PASSAGE PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT | pass | 63 | 0 | | ## Actions (12) - 2026-06-22: Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-11: Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-11: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-11: House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment) (House) - 2026-06-09: Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026) (House) - 2026-06-09: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-06-07: Proposed Substitute - 2026-06-07: Scheduled for consideration (06/09/2026) - 2026-04-28: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-04-24: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/28/2026) - 2026-03-25: Introduced, referred to House Finance (House) ## Bill text - H8351 - As Introduced, 2026-03-25: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351.pdf) - H8351 - Substitute, 2026-03-25: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351A.pdf) - H8351 - Substitute As Amended, 2026-03-25: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351Aaa.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351Aaa.pdf) ## Related bills - H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY . (became law) - H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN . (became law) - H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - H8437: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [H8351 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351.htm) - [H8351 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351.pdf) - [H8351 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351A.htm) - [H8351 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351A.pdf) - [H8351 - Substitute As Amended (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351Aaa.htm) - [H8351 - Substitute As Amended (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8351Aaa.pdf) ## Related - [H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8605-2026) - [H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8586-2026) - [H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8580-2026) - [H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8506-2026) - [H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8525-2026) - [H8437: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8437-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8351-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).