JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE, PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION -- RIGHT TO AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION (Amends the constitution to guarantee Rhode Island residents with equal opportunity to receive an education that is adequate, equitable and meaningful and provides judicial enforcement of this provision.)

H7453

2026 -- H 7453
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
TO APPROVE, PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION -- RIGHT TO AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION

Introduced By:
Representatives Messier, Kislak, Cruz, Casey, Furtado, Kazarian,
Alzate, Sanchez, Serpa, and Fogarty

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
House State Government & Elections
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RESOLVED, That a majority of members elected to each house of the general assembly
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voting therefor, the following amendment to the Constitution of the State be proposed to the
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qualified electors of the State in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the
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Constitution for their approval and that it take the place of Article XII, Sections 1 and 2, which
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are hereby amended, effective January 1, 2027, to read as follows:
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ARTICLE XII
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OF EDUCATION
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Section 1.
Duty of general assembly to promote schools and libraries

Fundamental right
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to a public education and the duty to promote public libraries
. -- The diffusion of knowledge, as
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well as of virtue among the people, being essential to the preservation of their rights and liberties,
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it shall be the duty of the general assembly to promote public schools and public libraries, and to
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adopt all means which it may deem necessary and proper to secure to the people the advantages
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and opportunities of education and public library services.
In furtherance of the duty to establish
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and maintain a system of free public schools, it shall be the additional duty of the general
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assembly and the state to guarantee an equitable, adequate and meaningful education to each
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child.
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Section 2.
Perpetual school fund. -- The money which now is or which may hereafter be
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appropriated by law for the establishment of a permanent fund for the support of public schools,
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shall be securely invested and remain a perpetual fund for that purpose.

Judicial enforcement. --

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This article shall be judicially enforceable. Any person or entity injured or threatened with any
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injury because of any noncompliance with its provisions shall be entitled to bring an action in
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Superior Court to enforce these provisions and to obtain declaratory and injunctive relief for any
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violation thereof.
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RESOLVED, That this amendment shall take the place of
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Section 1 and Section 2, Article XII, of the Constitution, effective January 1, 2027; and
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be it further
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RESOLVED, That the said proposition of amendment shall be submitted to the electors
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for their approval or rejection at the next statewide general election. The voting places in the
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several cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours required by law for voting therein for
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general officers of the state; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State shall cause the said proposition of amendment
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to be published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the
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said meetings of the said electors; and the said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or
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notices to be issued previous to said meetings of the electors for the purpose of warning the town,
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ward, or district meetings, and said proposition shall be read by the town, city, ward, or district
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meetings to be held as aforesaid; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the town, city, ward, and district meetings to be held as aforesaid shall
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be warned, and the list of voters shall be canvassed and made up, and the said town, ward, and
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district meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as now provided by law for the town,
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city, ward, and district meetings for the election of general officers of the state.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
TO APPROVE, PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION -- RIGHT TO AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION
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This amendment to the Constitution of the State, if approved, would provide that it would
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be the paramount duty of the general assembly, the department of education, and other
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government agencies to provide Rhode Island residents with equal opportunities to receive an
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education that is adequate, equitable and meaningful effective January 1, 2027.
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