Rhode Island 2026 Session Status: Passed House 9 D cosponsors

HB 7909 — AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND LITERACY AND DROPOUT PREVENTION ACT

Last action — 04/14/2026 Referred to Senate Education

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

This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 27, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 58% · moderate confidence

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 10 sponsors

    10 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (9 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Redefines dyslexia to mean a specific learning disability characterized by difficulties in word reading and/or spelling that involve accuracy, speed, or both and vary depending on the orthography.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. 04/14/2026 Referred to Senate Education

  2. 04/09/2026 House read and passed

  3. 04/03/2026 Placed on House Calendar (04/09/2026)

  4. 04/02/2026 Committee recommends passage

  5. 03/27/2026 Scheduled for consideration (04/02/2026)

  6. 03/17/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  7. 03/13/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/17/2026)

  8. 02/27/2026 Introduced, referred to House Education

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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10 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 104 not signed on

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 66 Yea · 0 Nay · 9 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 55006
Independent 1000
Republican 8002
Unaffiliated 2001
Total 66009
% of votes cast 88%0%0%12%
How each member voted (75)
Member Party Vote
Mr. Speaker — Yea
O'Brien — Yea
ShallcrossSmith — Not Voting
Alex Finkelman Democratic Yea
Alex Marszalkowski Democratic Yea
Anthony J. DeSimone Democratic Yea
Arthur Handy Democratic Yea
Arthur J. Corvese Democratic Yea
Brandon C. Potter Democratic Yea
Brandon T. Voas Democratic Yea
Brian Patrick Kennedy Democratic Yea
Carol Hagan McEntee Democratic Yea
Charlene M. Lima Democratic Yea
Cherie L. Cruz Democratic Not Voting
Christopher R. Blazejewski Democratic Yea
David A. Bennett Democratic Yea
David Morales Democratic Yea
Deborah A. Fellela Democratic Yea
Earl A. Read, III Democratic Yea
Edith H. Ajello Democratic Yea
Enrique George Sanchez Democratic Yea
Evan P. Shanley Democratic Yea
Grace Diaz Democratic Yea
Gregory J. Costantino Democratic Yea
Jacquelyn M. Baginski Democratic Not Voting
Jason Knight Democratic Yea
Jenni A. Furtado Democratic Yea
Jennifer A. Stewart Democratic Not Voting
Jennifer Smith Boylan Democratic Yea
John G. Edwards Democratic Yea
John J. Lombardi Democratic Yea
Jose F. Batista Democratic Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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
Matt S. Dawson Democratic Yea
Megan L. Cotter Democratic Yea
Mia A. Ackerman Democratic Yea
Michelle E. McGaw Democratic Yea
Nathan W. Biah Democratic Yea
Patricia A. Serpa Democratic Yea
Ramon A. Perez Democratic Yea
Raymond A. Hull Democratic Yea
Rebecca M. Kislak Democratic Yea
Robert D. Phillips Democratic Yea
Robert E. Craven, Sr. Democratic Not Voting
Samuel A. Azzinaro Democratic Yea
Scott A. Slater Democratic Yea
Stephen M. Casey Democratic Yea
Susan R. Donovan Democratic Yea
Teresa Ann Tanzi Democratic Yea
Terri Cortvriend Democratic Yea
Thomas E. Noret Democratic Yea
Tina L. Spears Democratic Yea
Jon D. Brien Independent Yea
Brian C. Newberry Republican Yea
Christopher G. Paplauskas Republican Yea
David J. Place Republican Yea
George A Nardone Republican Yea
Marie A. Hopkins Republican Yea
Michael W. Chippendale Republican Yea
Paul M. Santucci Republican Yea
Richard R. Fascia Republican Not Voting
Robert J. Quattrocchi Republican Not Voting
Sherry Roberts Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 7909 do?
Redefines dyslexia to mean a specific learning disability characterized by difficulties in word reading and/or spelling that involve accuracy, speed, or both and vary depending on the orthography.
Who sponsors HB 7909?
HB 7909 is sponsored by Matt S. Dawson (Democratic), Nathan W. Biah (Democratic), Patricia A. Serpa (Democratic), Brandon T. Voas (Democratic), Jenni A. Furtado (Democratic), Jacquelyn M. Baginski (Democratic), Karen Alzate (Democratic), Joseph J. Solomon, Jr. (Democratic), O'Brien, and Mary Ann Shallcross Smith (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 7909?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 27, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 7909?
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