# Rhode Island H8527: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CHARIHO REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SERVING THE TOWNS OF CHARLESTOWN, RICHMOND AND HOPKINTON, CONSISTING OF ONE OR MORE BUILDINGS ON A SINGLE CAMPUS, AND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SWITCH ROAD CAMPUS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COSTS OF LAND ACQUISITION, DEMOLITION, DESIGN, HEALTH AND SAFETY PROJECTS, PLAYGROUNDS, LANDSCAPING, PAVING, AND ALL EXPENSES INCIDENTAL THERETO, BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $116,000,000 BONDS AND/OR NOTES THEREFOR, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF STATE HOUSING AID AT A REIMBURSEMENT RATE OR STATE SHARE RATIO OF NOT LESS THAN 61% AT THE TIME OF ISSUANCE, WHICH RATE OR RATIO MAY INCREASE TO 65% AT PROJECT COMPLETION .

Rhode Island H8527, AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CHARIHO REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SERVING THE TOWNS OF CHARLESTOWN, RICHMOND AND HOPKINTON, CONSISTING OF ONE OR MORE BUILDINGS ON A SINGLE CAMPUS, AND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SWITCH ROAD CAMPUS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COSTS OF LAND ACQUISITION, DEMOLITION, DESIGN, HEALTH AND SAFETY PROJECTS, PLAYGROUNDS, LANDSCAPING, PAVING, AND ALL EXPENSES INCIDENTAL THERETO, BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $116,000,000 BONDS AND/OR NOTES THEREFOR, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF STATE HOUSING AID AT A REIMBURSEMENT RATE OR STATE SHARE RATIO OF NOT LESS THAN 61% AT THE TIME OF ISSUANCE, WHICH RATE OR RATIO MAY INCREASE TO 65% AT PROJECT COMPLETION ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Megan L. Cotter (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-06-26 (Effective without Governor's signature) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8527-2026
- 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 H8527
- State: Rhode Island
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CHARIHO REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SERVING THE TOWNS OF CHARLESTOWN, RICHMOND AND HOPKINTON, CONSISTING OF ONE OR MORE BUILDINGS ON A SINGLE CAMPUS, AND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SWITCH ROAD CAMPUS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COSTS OF LAND ACQUISITION, DEMOLITION, DESIGN, HEALTH AND SAFETY PROJECTS, PLAYGROUNDS, LANDSCAPING, PAVING, AND ALL EXPENSES INCIDENTAL THERETO, BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $116,000,000 BONDS AND/OR NOTES THEREFOR, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF STATE HOUSING AID AT A REIMBURSEMENT RATE OR STATE SHARE RATIO OF NOT LESS THAN 61% AT THE TIME OF ISSUANCE, WHICH RATE OR RATIO MAY INCREASE TO 65% AT PROJECT COMPLETION .
- Status: became law
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-05-06
- Last action: 2026-06-26, Effective without Governor's signature
- Sponsor: Megan L. Cotter (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (110 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Safeguards and extra funding for bonds: benefit, low. The district can seek and spend federal or state grants and advances for this project, which can lower local costs. Federal rules control when they conflict with state rules. Bond proceeds must be kept in FDIC banks or U.S. government‑backed securities; other deposits must be insured or backed at 1…
- New Chariho elementary school with state aid: mixed, high. The law lets the Chariho Regional School District borrow up to $116 million to build a new elementary campus and improve the Switch Road campus. The state must confirm school housing aid of at least 61% when bonds are issued, and that share can rise to 65% when parts of the project finish. The proj…
- How Chariho borrows and repays school debt: mixed, medium. The district must budget each year to pay principal and interest until the debt is fully paid. Principal payments start within five years and end within thirty years. The district may use serial, term, zero‑coupon, or capital‑appreciation bonds to shape payments. It can issue short‑term notes befor…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Megan L. Cotter (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Brian Patrick Kennedy (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tina L. Spears (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-06-11 | Senate | AUTHORIZING THE CHARIHO REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT -- BONDS In Concurrence | pass | 37 | 1 |   |
| 2026-06-02 | House | CHARIHO REGIONAL SCHOOL - DIST. PASSAGE | pass | 73 | 0 |   |

## Actions (11)

- 2026-06-26: Effective without Governor's signature (Governor)
- 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor)
- 2026-06-11: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate)
- 2026-06-09: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate)
- 2026-06-02: House read and passed (House)
- 2026-05-29: Placed on House Calendar (06/02/2026) (House)
- 2026-05-26: Committee recommends passage
- 2026-05-22: Scheduled for consideration (05/26/2026)
- 2026-05-19: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 2026-05-15: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/19/2026)
- 2026-05-06: Introduced, referred to House Finance (House)

## Bill text

- H8527 - As Introduced, 2026-05-06: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8527.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8527.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
- [H8527 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8527.htm)
- [H8527 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8527.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8527-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).