AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- MILITARY CHILD ACT (Defines "military-connected student", "advance enrollment" and "open enrollment" to give them flexibility in choosing a school district.)

S2416

2026 -- S 2416
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LC004577
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- MILITARY CHILD ACT

Introduced By:
Senators Felag, Raptakis, Burke, LaMountain, Murray, and Vargas

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 30 of the General Laws entitled "MILITARY AFFAIRS AND
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DEFENSE" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 30.3
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THE MILITARY CHILD ACT
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30-30.3-1. Short title.

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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Military Child Act."
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30-30.3-2. Definitions.

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As used in this chapter:
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(1) “Military-connected student” means a student who is the dependent of either a person
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in the active military service of the United States or in a full-time status during active service with
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a force of the Rhode Island national guard.
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30-30.3-3. Advance enrollment.

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A military-connected student whose parent or guardian is being relocated to this state under
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military orders and is transferred to or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state,
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shall be deemed to be a resident pupil of a school system of a city or town for the purposes of
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enrollment. The Rhode Island board of education shall permit military-connected students to enroll
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preliminarily by remote registration without charge and shall not require the parents or guardians
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of the military-connected student or the student to physically appear at a location within the district
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to register the student, if the parents or guardians present evidence of military orders that a parent

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or guardian shall be stationed in this state during the current or following school year. The parents
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or guardians may use an address within the school district where the military-connected student is
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to be enrolled of a temporary on-base billeting facility, a purchased or leased home or apartment,
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or federal government or public-private venture off-base military housing. Proof of required
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residency shall not be required at the time of the remote registration but shall be required within
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ten (10) days of the student’s attendance in the school system of the city or town where the student
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resides.
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30-30.3-4. Open enrollment.

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(a) Military-connected students who are the dependent children of a member of the active
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uniformed military services of the United States on full-time active-duty status and students who
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are the dependent children of a member of the military reserve on active duty orders shall be eligible
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for admission to the school district of their choice regardless of the capacity of the district.
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(b) Students shall be eligible if:
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(1) At least one parent of the student has a Department of Defense-issued identification
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card; and
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(2) At least one parent can provide evidence that the parent shall be on active duty status
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or active duty orders, meaning the parent shall be temporarily transferred in compliance with
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official orders to another location in support of combat, contingency operation or a natural disaster
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requiring the use of orders for more than thirty (30) consecutive days.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- MILITARY CHILD ACT
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This act would define "military-connected student", "advance enrollment" and "open
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enrollment" to give the military connected student flexibility in choosing a school district.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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