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H7416AHigher Education

Education - Guaranteed Admission for Eagle Scout and Gold Award Recipients

This bill guarantees admission to Rhode Island public colleges for residents who earn Eagle Scout or Gold Award ranks.

Introduced68 Yea0 Nay7 Not voting
Population
Affected
8
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 30, 2026Committee House Education

Plain-English Summary

This bill requires Rhode Island's public colleges and universities, including the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and the Community College of Rhode Island, to automatically admit any state resident who has earned the Eagle Scout rank or the Girl Scout Gold Award. This applies to students applying for the Fall 2026 semester and beyond. Applicants must still meet minimum application requirements. The guaranteed admission does not apply to specialized or limited-capacity programs like nursing or engineering, and it does not guarantee financial aid or scholarships.

For younger readers

This bill makes a new rule for public colleges in Rhode Island. If a student lives in Rhode Island and works hard to earn the highest award in Boy Scouts (called an Eagle Scout) or Girl Scouts (called a Gold Award), they will automatically be allowed to go to a state college. They still have to fill out the application properly. It does not mean they get to go for free, and they might not get into certain special classes that are already full, but they will be accepted into the school.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Eagle ScoutsGirl Scout Gold Award recipientsCollege applicantsPublic colleges and universitiesRhode Island residents
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely. State legislatures generally possess the constitutional authority to establish broad admission policies, parameters, and mandates for state-funded public institutions of higher education.

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Encourages and rewards civic engagement and community service among youth, which aligns with progressive goals of fostering strong, community-minded citizens.
  • Includes a robust non-discrimination clause ensuring that these guaranteed admissions are granted without regard to race, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other protected classes.
  • Expands access to public higher education by creating an alternative, guaranteed pathway for students who have demonstrated exceptional personal development and leadership outside of traditional academic metrics.
  • May disproportionately benefit students from higher-income families who have the financial resources, time, and parental support required to participate in scouting programs and achieve these top ranks.
  • Fails to include any financial aid or tuition waivers, meaning disadvantaged students who earn guaranteed admission may still remain unable to afford the cost of attending college.
  • Privileges specific, traditional organizations (Scouting America and Girl Scouts) over other forms of community service or leadership that might be more accessible or relevant to marginalized communities.
For Conservatives
  • Rewards traditional social values, personal responsibility, and hard work by recognizing the significant achievement of earning the Eagle Scout or Gold Award.
  • Does not create new government assistance programs or require additional taxpayer funding, as it explicitly states that financial aid and scholarships are not guaranteed.
  • Promotes a merit-based pathway to college admission that focuses on objective, character-building accomplishments rather than subjective or identity-based criteria.
  • Imposes a government mandate on state universities, interfering with their autonomy to independently set and maintain their own admission standards.
  • Includes a non-discrimination clause specifically protecting "gender identity or expression," which conflicts with traditional conservative social values.
  • Elevates Scouting America, an organization that some conservatives feel has abandoned traditional values by recently adopting more progressive social policies and membership criteria.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

2 versions
Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 33 additions

SECTION 1. Legislative findings. The general assembly finds and declares that:

(1) Earning the rank of Eagle Scout in Scouting America or the Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award represents extraordinary achievement in leadership, community service, and personal development.

(2) These accomplishments align closely with the mission of Rhode Island’s public institutions of higher education to foster civic engagement, scholarship, and community leadership.

(3) Providing guaranteed admission to recipients of these awards encourages public service among Rhode Island youth and strengthens connections between the state’s public institutions of higher education and future student leaders.

SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 16-117-1. Guaranteed admission for Eagle Scout and Gold Award recipients.

(a) Automatic admission requirement - Public institutions of higher education. Beginning with applications submitted for the Fall 2026 academic term and every term thereafter, each public institution of higher education in the State of Rhode Island, including the University of Rhode Island (URI), Rhode Island College (RIC), and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), shall grant automatic admission to any applicant who:

(1) Is a resident of the State of Rhode Island at the time of application; and

(2) Has earned:

(i) The rank of Eagle Scout from Scouting America; or

(ii) The Gold Award from the Girl Scouts of the USA; and

(3) Meets all minimum application submission requirements established by the institution.

(b) Verification. Applicants seeking admission under this section shall provide official documentation of the Eagle Scout rank or Gold Award to the admissions office of the applicable institution.

(c) Program-specific restrictions.

(1) Nothing in this chapter shall require an institution to admit an applicant into a specialized, capacity-limited, or accreditation-restricted program (including, but not limited to, nursing, engineering, pharmacy, or fine arts audition-based programs).

(2) Applicants admitted under this section shall be permitted to enroll in the institution and may declare any major for which they meet the academic or program prerequisites.

(d) Non-discrimination. Admission granted pursuant to this chapter shall be offered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. 16-117-2. Rulemaking authority. The council on postsecondary education and each public institution of higher education may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter, including procedures for documentation, deadlines, and admission notification. 16-117-3. Construction. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to:

(1) Guarantee financial aid, tuition waivers, or scholarships;

(2) Alter residency requirements for in-state tuition; or

(3) Prohibit institutions from adopting additional policies that expand access or create further pathways for admission.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.