Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 8 D · 1 I cosponsors

HB 5979 — AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Last action — 04/29/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Requires a review by the department of elementary and secondary education of the formula components used to compute the aid needed to support high need students.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read HB 5979 on the official Rhode Island source →

Action History

  1. 04/29/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  2. 04/25/2025 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/29/2025)

  3. 02/28/2025 Introduced, referred to House Finance

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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10 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 104 not signed on · 7 voted No

Sponsors (10)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (104)

104 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 104 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

PASSAGE

Passed 57 Yea · 13 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 42502
Unaffiliated 11602
Republican 4201
Total 571305
% of votes cast 76%17%0%7%
How each member voted (75)
Member Party Vote
Amore — Not Voting
Barros — Nay
Cardillo — Yea
Cassar — Yea
Fenton-Fung — Yea
Filippi — Yea
Hawkins — Yea
Henries — Nay
McLaughlin — Yea
Mr. Speaker — Yea
O'Brien — Not Voting
Price — Yea
Ranglin-Vassell — Nay
Ruggiero — Yea
ShallcrossSmith — Yea
Tobon — Nay
Vella-Wilkinson — Nay
Williams — Nay
Lima S — Yea
Alex Marszalkowski Democratic Yea
Arthur Handy Democratic Not Voting
Arthur J. Corvese Democratic Yea
Brandon C. Potter Democratic Yea
Brian Patrick Kennedy Democratic Yea
Carol Hagan McEntee Democratic Yea
Charlene M. Lima Democratic Yea
Christopher R. Blazejewski Democratic Yea
David A. Bennett Democratic Yea
David Morales Democratic Nay
Deborah A. Fellela Democratic Yea
Edith H. Ajello Democratic Yea
Evan P. Shanley Democratic Yea
Grace Diaz Democratic Yea
Gregory J. Costantino Democratic Yea
Jacquelyn M. Baginski Democratic Yea
Jason Knight Democratic Yea
John G. Edwards Democratic Yea
John J. Lombardi Democratic Yea
Jose F. Batista Democratic Yea
Joseph J. Solomon, Jr. Democratic Yea
Joseph M. McNamara Democratic Yea
Joshua J. Giraldo Democratic Yea
Julie A. Casimiro Democratic Yea
June Speakman Democratic Yea
Justine A. Caldwell Democratic Yea
Karen Alzate Democratic Yea
Katherine S. Kazarian Democratic Yea
Kathleen A. Fogarty Democratic Yea
Lauren H. Carson Democratic Yea
Leonela Felix Democratic Yea
Marvin L. Abney Democratic Yea
Mary Duffy Messier Democratic Yea
Mia A. Ackerman Democratic Yea
Michelle E. McGaw Democratic Yea
Nathan W. Biah Democratic Nay
Patricia A. Serpa Democratic Yea
Ramon A. Perez Democratic Not Voting
Raymond A. Hull Democratic Nay
Rebecca M. Kislak Democratic Nay
Robert D. Phillips Democratic Yea
Robert E. Craven, Sr. Democratic Yea
Samuel A. Azzinaro Democratic Yea
Scott A. Slater Democratic Yea
Stephen M. Casey Democratic Yea
Susan R. Donovan Democratic Yea
Teresa Ann Tanzi Democratic Nay
Terri Cortvriend Democratic Yea
Thomas E. Noret Democratic Yea
Brian C. Newberry Republican Yea
David J. Place Republican Yea
Elaine J. Morgan Republican Not Voting
George A Nardone Republican Nay
Michael W. Chippendale Republican Yea
Robert J. Quattrocchi Republican Yea
Sherry Roberts Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

taxation education
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 5979 do?
Requires a review by the department of elementary and secondary education of the formula components used to compute the aid needed to support high need students.
Who sponsors HB 5979?
HB 5979 is sponsored by O'Brien, Scott A. Slater (Democratic), Leonela Felix (Democratic), Jennifer A. Stewart (Democratic), Karen Alzate (Democratic), Mary Duffy Messier (Democratic), Joshua J. Giraldo (Democratic), Jon D. Brien (Independent), Robert D. Phillips (Democratic), and Stephen M. Casey (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 5979?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 5979?
Track HB 5979 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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