2026 -- S 2807

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LC004458

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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 EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PILOT

PROGRAM ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Pearson, Gallo, Acosta, Tikoian, Lauria, Kallman, Euer, and
Zurier

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. The title of chapter 113 of title 16 entitled "Rhode Island Hope Scholarship

Pilot Program Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: "Rhode Island Hope Scholarship Program

Act".

     SECTION 2. Sections 16-113-7 and 16-113-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-113

entitled "Rhode Island Hope Scholarship Pilot Program Act" are hereby amended to read as

follows:

     16-113-7. Reporting and disbursement.

     (a) On or before November 10, 2023, and on or before November 10 and May 10 thereafter

for every year through and including calendar year 2030 thereafter, Rhode Island college shall

submit a report to the director of the office of management and budget, the state budget officer, the

house fiscal advisor, the senate fiscal advisor, the commissioner of postsecondary education, and

the chair of the council on postsecondary education, detailing the following:

     (1) The number of students eligible to participate in the scholarship program;

     (2) The amount of federal and institutional financial aid anticipated to be received by

recipient students;

     (3) The aggregate tuition and mandatory fee costs attributable to recipient students;

     (4) The resulting total cost of the scholarship program to the state; and

     (5) The report shall contain such data for both the current fiscal year and the most up-to-

date forecast for the following fiscal year. Data reported shall be subdivided by student-year cohort

and shall be accompanied by a written explanation detailing the estimating methodology utilized

and any impact(s) the forecasted data may present to institutional capacity, operational costs, and

the tuition/fee revenue base of the institution.

     (b) On or before July 1, 2030, Rhode Island college and the commissioner of postsecondary

education shall submit a report evaluating the program based on all cohorts to the governor, speaker

of the house, and the president of the senate. This evaluation shall include the following:

     (1) The number of students who started in each cohort;

     (2) The number of students in each cohort who have attained a degree or certification in an

on-time manner;

     (3) The number of students in each cohort who have not attained a degree or certification

in an on-time manner and an analysis of why that has happened;

     (4) The number of students in each cohort who began the program but have been unable to

continue or complete the program and an analysis of why that has happened;

     (5) The costs of the program and the costs of continuing the program;

     (6) Suggestions for ways to increase the success of the program;

     (7) Recommendations as to modifying, continuing, expanding, curtailing, or discontinuing

the program; provided that, on and after July 1, 2026, the program shall be deemed a continuing

scholarship program; and

     (8) Any such other recommendations or information as Rhode Island college and the

commissioner of postsecondary education deem appropriate to include in the evaluation.

     (c) The office of management and budget, in consultation with the office of the

postsecondary commissioner, shall oversee the apportionment and disbursement of all funds

appropriated for the purpose of the scholarship program.

     (d) Effective July 1, 2026, the "Rhode Island hope scholarship program" and all references

to the "Rhode Island hope scholarship pilot program" shall be construed to mean and refer to the

"Rhode Island hope scholarship program."

     16-113-10. Funding of and sunset of pilot program Funding of Rhode Island hope

scholarship program.

     The Rhode Island hope scholarship pilot program shall be funded from July 1, 2023,

through and including June 30, 2030 and every year thereafter. There shall be no further funding

of the pilot program without further action of the general assembly. Any final reports due pursuant

to this chapter shall be filed pursuant to the dates set forth herein.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PILOT

PROGRAM ACT

***

     This act would remove the sunset provision of the Rhode Island hope pilot scholarship

program, making it a permanent scholarship program. This act would also rename the program as

the Rhode Island hope scholarship program.

     This act would take effect on take effect on July 1, 2026.

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