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H8345A
2026 -- H 8345 SUBSTITUTE A
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LC005716/SUB A
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE USE AND
IMPACT OF DIGITAL AND ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND
ON MENTAL HEALTH
Introduced By:
Representatives Caldwell, Cotter, and Spears
Date Introduced:
March 25, 2026
Referred To:
House Education
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WHEREAS, The use of digital and electronic technology in public education has
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increased significantly over the past decade; and
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WHEREAS, This increased use has taken place in areas that rely on digital and electronic
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technology, and the extent or depth to which teachers, students, and parents/responsible adults are
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learning and interacting with this technology has also increased; and
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WHEREAS, Along with the increased breadth and depth of use of digital and electronic
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technology, there has been even greater advancements, enhancements and updates to this
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technology, which in many ways outpaces the ability of schools to fully vet, review, and analyze
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these changes, and for parents/responsible adults to be aware of the technologies their children
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are accessing and utilizing; and
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WHEREAS, The increased use of this technology has impacted the way classes are
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taught, the way students learn, and the way schools are administered; and
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WHEREAS, While this increased use of such items as third-party digital platform
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technologies, social media, and the machine learning commonly referred to as “Artificial
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Intelligence” potentially give third-party vendors and providers, social media content creators,
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and others who operate in “cyberspace” great influence in the way education is delivered in
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Rhode Island and the way children learn, there has been little study of the impact and changes the
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use of these platforms and technologies might have on public education in Rhode Island; and
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WHEREAS, These same concerns about the use of technology and its possible effects on
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children in education can also arise as an issue in mental health care, particularly on persons who
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may be in a vulnerable position; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission to study the use and impact of digital
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and electronic technology in public education and on mental health is hereby created consisting of
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fourteen (14) members:
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Four (4) of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, not more than three
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(3) from the same political party, of whom three (3) shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
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House and one of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader; one of whom shall be the
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Rhode Island Attorney General, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the State Police
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computer crimes unit, appointed by the Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; one of
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whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Foundation, or designee; two (2) of whom shall
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be public school teachers, one currently teaching in a municipality with a population greater than
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eighty thousand (80,000) persons and one currently teaching in a municipality with a population
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of less than eighty thousand (80,000) persons, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one
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of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals, or designee;
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one of whom shall be an expert in children’s behavioral health, to be appointed by the Speaker of
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the House; one of whom shall be an expert in digital media, to be appointed by the Speaker of the
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House; one of whom shall be a parent of a child currently enrolled in a public school in Rhode
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Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be the President of
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the Rhode Island Society for Technology in Education, or designee.
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The purpose of said commission shall be to undertake a comprehensive study of the
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following:
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(1) The use and impact of third-party digital platforms in Rhode Island public education
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including, but not limited to, the use of these platforms, and the ways that these platforms could
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be used more effectively, as well as potential harms from the use of these platforms and ways to
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mitigate those harms;
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(2) Exploring options to provide protections to children using online platforms, including
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those involving financial transactions on gaming and social media sites;
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(3) The use and availability of age-appropriate school digital content, and exploring ways
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to ensure the use of safe software in schools, with a special emphasis on technologies which have
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addictive design elements, provide exposure to inappropriate conduct, or incorporate predatory
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data collection;
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(4) Ways and best practices to ensure creators of online services, products, or features
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that children are likely to access, shall consider the best interests of children when designing and
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developing such online services, products, or features;
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(5) The use of artificial intelligence in mental healthcare treatments, and the need for
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regulation thereof;
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(6) The use of artificial intelligence companion technology and its potential impact on
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suicidal ideation, physical harm, or financial harm; and
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(7) Additional issue raised by and when a minor is an account holder on a social media
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platform.
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The study commission shall consult with other individuals who have relevant expertise as
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needed.
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Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at
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the call of the Speaker of the House and shall select, from among the legislators, a chairperson.
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Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
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The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
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All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,
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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or
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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.
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The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters
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for said commission; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the
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Education Committee of the House of Representatives no later than April 23, 2027, and said
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commission shall expire on May 28, 2027.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE USE AND
IMPACT OF DIGITAL AND ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND
ON MENTAL HEALTH
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This resolution would create a fourteen (14) member special legislative study
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commission to study the use and impact of digital and electronic technology in public education
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and on mental health, and would report its findings and recommendations to the education
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committee of the House of Representatives no later than April 23, 2027, and said commission
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would expire on May 28, 2027.
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