Permits students diagnosed with asthma, a condition that may lead to bronchospasm or anaphylaxis, or both, to carry and self-administer asthma medication or auto-injectable or intranasal epinephrine, or both.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would allow students in Rhode Island schools to carry and use their own asthma inhalers or epinephrine devices (such as EpiPens or nasal sprays) on school grounds. Currently, schools may require students to store medications with a nurse or school office. Under this bill, students who have been diagnosed with asthma or conditions that could cause severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) or airway spasms (bronchospasm) would be permitted to keep these medications on their person and use them when needed.

The bill would primarily affect students who have asthma or serious allergy-related conditions, along with their families, school nurses, and school administrators. For students with these conditions, having immediate access to their medication could be critical — during a severe asthma attack or allergic reaction, delays in reaching a school nurse could be dangerous. This change would allow students to respond to a medical emergency right away rather than waiting for assistance.

The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was introduced in the Rhode Island Senate and referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, which has recommended holding it for further study. A hearing is scheduled for March 10, 2026. This means lawmakers are still reviewing and discussing the proposal before deciding whether to move it forward for a full vote.