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6/12/2025
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Senate approves Leader Ciccone’s legislation to reduce residency requirement for in-state tuition
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate today approved legislation from Majority Leader Frank A. Ciccone III that would reduce the Rhode Island residency requirement for students to be eligible for in-state tuition.
“Providing all students with access to educational opportunities is critical, and this important legislation will put higher education within reach for more young people in our state – even those who are relatively new to Rhode Island. It’s about fairness, and about providing students with the best possible chance for success as they pursue a better life. It’s an investment in young people who consider Rhode Island their home and want to build a future here. In the years ahead, that investment will provide an outstanding return for our state in terms of a stronger workforce, more prosperous communities, and less need for social services. I am very grateful to my Senate colleagues for their support,” said Leader Ciccone (D-Dist. 7, Providence, Johnston).
The legislation (2025-S 0022Aaa) would amend the Student Success Act to reduce the time a non-immigrant foreign national student must have been a resident of Rhode Island in order to quality for in-state tuition, from three years to one year. For all other students, the requirement to have attended a Rhode Island high school for three years to be eligible for in-state tuition would also be reduced to one year.
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, where Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence) has introduced companion legislation (2025-H 5745).
For more information, contact:
Greg Pare, Director of Communications for the Senate
State House Room 112
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 276-5558
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