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3/23/2026
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Media Advisory: Senate Education Committee to hear in-state tuition bill
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate Education Committee will hold hearings Wednesday on several bills, including one to ease restrictions on in-state tuition at public colleges and the University of Rhode Island.
The committee meets Wednesday, March 25, at 4 p.m. in Room 211 on the second floor of the State House. Among the bills scheduled for hearings are:
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2026-S 2650 — Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Dist. 7, Providence, Johnston), this bill will allow students who attended a Rhode Island high school for at least year prior to graduation to qualify for in-state tuition at state higher education institutions. The bill also removes additional requirements for students who are immigrants.
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2026-S 2432 — This bill sponsored by Senate Majority Whip David P. Tikoian (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Lincoln) would grant automatic admission at state colleges and the University of Rhode Island to Rhode Island Eagle Scouts and Girl Scout Gold Award recipients provided they meet the institution’s minimum requirements.
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2026-S 3011 — This bill sponsored by Sen. Lammis J. Vargas (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) would prohibit public and private colleges from charging students for institution-provided insurance unless the student opts into it.
The committee will meet again Thursday, March 26, at 3:30 p.m. in the Senate Lounge on the second floor of the State House for a hearing on the appointment of David E. Barrett to the University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees for a term ending Feb. 1, 2029.
The meetings will be televised by Capitol Television on Cox channels 15 and 61 for high definition; i3Broadband (Formerly Full Channel) channel 15; and Verizon channel 34. Senate committee hearings may also air on Channel 75 for Cox Subscribers. Livestreaming is available at https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv
Any written testimony must be emailed to SLegislation@rilegislature.gov prior to 3 p.m. on Wednesday for that day’s hearings, and 2:30 p.m. on Thursday for the appointment, in order for it to be provided to the members of the committee at the hearing and to be included in the meeting records. Testimony will become a public record.
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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