H 8269Funding & Budget

Education - The Rhode Island Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission

This bill guarantees $30,000 in annual state funding to the Rhode Island Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Mar 11, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This legislation mandates a specific annual funding requirement for the Rhode Island Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission. It directs the General Assembly to appropriate $30,000 every fiscal year from the state treasury to the Commission. These funds are explicitly designated to support the Commission's educational efforts regarding the Holocaust and genocide.

For younger readers

This new law helps a group called the Rhode Island Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission. This group teaches people about very sad and difficult times in history so that we can learn from them and treat each other better. The law says the state government must give this group $30,000 every single year. This money will be used to help them pay for their teaching programs and make sure they can keep doing their important work.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

StudentsTeachersRhode Island Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission membersJewish CommunityTaxpayers

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

$0.02

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Ensures consistent government support for education regarding the dangers of fascism, hate speech, and systemic oppression, aligning with antifascist values.
Provides guaranteed resources for a commission dedicated to social justice and historical truth, ensuring these topics remain part of the public discourse.
Demonstrates a commitment to public funding for educational initiatives that benefit the community's moral and historical awareness.
The allocated sum of $30,000 is relatively small for a statewide educational initiative, potentially limiting the scope and reach of the program.
Does not mandate specific curriculum inclusion or outreach targets, leaving the effectiveness of the spending largely up to the commission's discretion.
Focuses funding on a specific historical commission rather than broadly increasing funding for history and social studies resources in underfunded public schools.

For Conservatives

Supports the fight against antisemitism and ensures the history of the Holocaust is preserved, aligning with traditional support for the Jewish community.
The fiscal impact is very low and fixed at a specific dollar amount, preventing open-ended spending commitments.
Focuses on educational awareness rather than imposing new regulations or restrictions on businesses and individuals.
Mandates future government spending ("shall appropriate") regardless of the state's economic condition or revenue in a given year.
Increases the size and scope of the administrative state by permanently funding a specific non-elected commission.
Could be viewed as the government dictating social curriculum, which some conservatives prefer to be handled locally or by families.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 4 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 16-93.1 of the General Laws entitled "The Rhode Island Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission [see Title 16 Chapter 97 — the Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 16-93.1-8. Annual appropriation. The general assembly shall appropriate, out of money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated during any given fiscal year, the sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) annually to the commission in furtherance of their education efforts.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.