Rhode Island in-state tuition exemption for qualifying students

State Bills: Rhode Island

Published March 31st, 2026

Detected April 1st, 2026

Summary

Rhode Island Senate Bill 2650 would exempt qualifying students from paying nonresident tuition at Rhode Island public universities, colleges, or community colleges. The bill passed the Senate on March 31, 2026, with a vote of 32-4, and is now pending action in the House after being engrossed.

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What changed

Rhode Island Senate Bill 2650 establishes a tuition exemption for students meeting specified requirements at public higher education institutions under the Council on Postsecondary Education. The bill exempts qualifying students from nonresident tuition rates at all Rhode Island public universities, colleges, and community colleges.

Rhode Island public higher education institutions should monitor this bill's progress through the House and prepare administrative processes to implement the tuition exemption if enacted. Students should review eligibility requirements once finalized. The bill has passed the Senate (32-4 vote) and was engrossed on March 31, 2026.

What to do next

Monitor bill progress through Rhode Island House of Representatives
Review current tuition exemption policies for alignment with new requirements
Prepare administrative procedures for processing exemption applications

Source document (simplified)

RI S2650 | 2026 | Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill 2650

RI State Legislature page for S2650
- Summary
- Sponsors
- Texts
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Status

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5)
Status: Engrossed on March 31 2026 - 50% progression
Action: 2026-03-31 - Senate read and passed
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Summary

EDUCATION -- COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION - Provides any student, who meets the requirements of this section, with an exemption from paying nonresident tuition at Rhode Island public universities, colleges, or community colleges.
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Title

Provides any student, who meets the requirements of this section, with an exemption from paying nonresident tuition at Rhode Island public universities, colleges, or community colleges.

Roll Calls

2026-03-31 - Senate - Passage (Y: 32 N: 4 NV: 2 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-25 - Senate - Senate Committee on Education: Passage (Y: 7 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]

History

| Date | Chamber | Action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-31 | Senate | Senate read and passed |
| 2026-03-27 | Senate | Placed on Senate Calendar (03/31/2026) |
| 2026-03-25 | Senate | Committee recommends passage |
| 2026-03-20 | Senate | Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/25/2026) |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Introduced, referred to Senate Education |

Subjects

Education
EDUCATION -- COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

Rhode Island State Sources

| Type | Source |
| --- | --- |
| Summary | https://status.rilegislature.gov/ |
| Text | https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2650.pdf |
| Roll Call | https://status.rilegislature.gov/committeevotedetail.aspx?id=40968 |
| Roll Call | https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/SVotes/votereport.asp?id=17406 |

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