AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT (Provides that a school district could elect and choose to not spend money on any mandate that is not fully funded through the state education aid formula.)

S2239

2026 -- S 2239
========
LC003296
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF ACT

Introduced By:
Senators E Morgan, Britto, Ciccone, de la Cruz, Urso, Euer, Paolino,
Rogers, Dimitri, and Famiglietti

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Chapter 16-7.2 of the General Laws entitled "The Education Equity and
2
Property Tax Relief Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
3

16-7.2-11. School districts may elect and choose not to spend money on mandates not
4
fully funded.
5

(a)(1) On and after July 1, 2027, a school district may elect and choose not to spend money
6
on any mandate that is not fully funded through the provisions of this chapter or of any other state
7
funding received through the department of elementary and secondary education (the
8
“department”).
9

(2) As used herein, the term “mandate” means any rule, regulation, or other policy
10
implemented by the department that requires an action to be taken or not taken, and which requires
11
a school district to expend funds as a result of that rule, regulation, or other policy, and no funds
12
are provided from or through the state including, but not limited to, the foundation education-aid
13
formula, to support that action.
14

(b) A school district electing and choosing not to spend money pursuant to this section shall
15
certify to the department in a written notice the specific mandate that is not being funded, and the
16
total dollar amount being saved by the school district as a result of not spending money on this
17
mandate. This written notice shall be filed on or before August 31 of the fiscal year for which the
18
school district shall not be spending the money. This written notice shall be required to be provided

1
in any year in which the school district proposes to act pursuant to this section.
2

(c) A school district electing and choosing not to spend money pursuant to this section shall
3
not be penalized or have their state aid reduced as a result of this action.
4
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC003296
========

LC003296 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF ACT
***
1
This act would provide on and after July 1, 2027, a school district could elect and choose
2
to not spend money on any mandate that is not fully funded through the state education aid formula
3
or of any other state funding received through the department of elementary and secondary
4
education.
5
This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC003296
========

LC003296 - Page 3 of 3