Bill
Bill > H6236
RI H6236
RI H6236Amends the composition of school bus districts within the state to provide transportation to students in grades kindergarten through 12.
summary
Introduced
04/11/2025
04/11/2025
In Committee
04/11/2025
04/11/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
06/20/2025
06/20/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This act would amend the composition of school bus districts within the state to provide transportation to students in grades kindergarten through 12. This act would change the total number of districts from five (5) to nine (9) districts, to promote greater efficiency, cost savings, and for many students, reducing the amount of time spent on a school bus. Students receiving transportation prior to December 30, 2025, under regions established in 1977, would be grandfathered into their old districts until July 1, 2029. This act would also provide that the categorical aid for excess costs associated with transporting students to out-of-district non-public schools would not be less than the higher of what was provided in fiscal years 2026 or 2027, and that any unused portions of this expense would be used to create a student transportation subsidy for students who are homeless, in foster care, or high special needs students. This act would take effect upon passage.
AI Summary
This bill amends the composition of school bus districts in the state, expanding the number of transportation regions from five to nine to improve efficiency and potentially reduce student travel times. The new regions reorganize the existing geographic districts, redistributing towns and cities across nine different regions. Students currently receiving transportation under the 1977 regional boundaries will be grandfathered into their existing districts until July 1, 2029, ensuring minimal disruption. Additionally, the bill establishes provisions for categorical aid related to out-of-district non-public school transportation, mandating that funding will not be less than the higher amount provided in fiscal years 2026 or 2027. Any unused funds from this transportation budget will be used to create a student transportation subsidy specifically targeting homeless students, students in foster care, and students with high special needs. The bill ensures that transportation costs for charter schools and regional technical centers remain consistent, with receiving schools charged at the same per-pupil transportation rate as the resident district. The legislation aims to streamline school transportation services while providing additional support for vulnerable student populations, and will take effect immediately upon passage.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (8)
Terri Cortvriend (D)*,
Lauren Carson (D),
Susan Donovan (D),
Jay Edwards (D),
Alex Finkelman (D),
Jason Knight (D),
Michelle McGaw (D),
June Speakman (D),
Last Action
Committee recommended measure be held for further study (on 05/20/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://status.rilegislature.gov/ |
| BillText | https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText25/HouseText25/H6236.pdf |
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