Strengthens school security measures, including the establishment of a RI school emergency response committee to develop additional recommendations for school security measures and requiring an annual school safety assessment by all school districts.

Rhode Island School Security Bill – Plain English Summary

This bill aims to strengthen safety and security measures in Rhode Island's public schools. It would create a new body called the Rhode Island School Emergency Response Committee, whose job would be to study school security issues and develop recommendations for making schools safer. The committee would bring together relevant experts and stakeholders to identify what additional security measures schools across the state should consider implementing.

The bill would also require every school district in Rhode Island to conduct an annual school safety assessment — meaning each district would need to regularly evaluate how safe and secure its schools are on a yearly basis. This is meant to ensure that school safety is consistently reviewed and updated rather than treated as a one-time concern.

This legislation primarily affects public school students, teachers, staff, and school administrators across Rhode Island, as well as local school districts that would take on the responsibility of completing these yearly assessments. State officials involved in education and emergency response would also play a role in implementing the new committee and its recommendations.

Currently, the bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House and referred to the House Education Committee, which has recommended it be held for further study — meaning it has not yet moved forward toward a vote. A hearing or further consideration is scheduled for March 2026.