Makes it a felony for any person required to register as a sex offender to live within three hundred feet (300’) of a school as defined in § 11-37.1-2.

RI Bill Summary: Sex Offender Residency Restrictions Near Schools

This bill would make it a felony crime for anyone who is registered as a sex offender in Rhode Island to live within 300 feet of a school. Under current law, there are already restrictions on where registered sex offenders can live, but this bill would establish this specific distance requirement from schools and attach serious felony-level criminal penalties for violating it. Three hundred feet is roughly the length of a football field.

The bill would directly affect people who are currently on Rhode Island's sex offender registry, as well as anyone who becomes required to register in the future. If a registered sex offender is living within 300 feet of a school — whether they moved there after registration or a school opened nearby — they could face felony charges. Schools are defined according to existing Rhode Island law, though the exact types of schools covered (elementary, secondary, etc.) would be determined by that existing definition in state statute.

As of early 2026, the bill has been introduced in the House and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, but it has not yet advanced further. The committee postponed consideration at the sponsor's request, and it has since been recommended to be held for further study, meaning it is not currently moving forward in the legislative process. This is a common step that often signals the bill needs more review before lawmakers are ready to vote on it.