Prohibits an educational institution or school district from accessing or using location data for tracking a student's institutional device or personal device, except in limited circumstances.

# Summary of RI Bill: Student Computer Device Privacy

This bill would prevent schools and school districts in Rhode Island from tracking the location of students through their school-issued devices (like laptops or tablets) or their personal devices. Essentially, it would stop educational institutions from using location data to monitor where students are when they are using these devices, whether at home, out in the community, or elsewhere.

The bill does include some limited exceptions where location tracking would still be allowed, though the core intent is to establish strong privacy protections for students. These exceptions would likely cover situations such as responding to emergencies, recovering stolen or lost school-owned devices, or other narrowly defined circumstances where tracking serves a critical purpose.

This legislation would directly affect students across Rhode Island's public schools and school districts, as well as the administrators and technology staff who manage school-issued devices. Parents and families would also be affected, as the bill would provide greater assurance that their children's movements are not being monitored through school technology. It reflects growing concerns nationwide about digital privacy for minors, particularly as schools have increasingly provided students with devices for learning.

The bill was introduced in the Rhode Island House and referred to the House Innovation, Internet, & Technology Committee. After a hearing in March 2026, the committee recommended holding the bill for further study, meaning lawmakers want more time to examine the issue before deciding whether to move it forward.