The bill amends Chapter 45-53 of the General Laws by introducing a new section, 45-53-17, which ties education aid to a municipality's success in achieving low- and moderate-income housing goals. Starting January 1, 2026, communities will have five years to meet a target of 10% of year-round housing units (or 15% in certain urban areas) designated as low- and moderate-income housing. If a community meets or exceeds these goals, their education aid will be increased proportionally based on the percentage by which they exceed the minimum requirements. The statewide planning program will be responsible for certifying the percentage of low- and moderate-income housing in each municipality annually.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 16-7.2-3 of the General Laws regarding Permanent Foundation Education Aid, ensuring that the calculation of education aid is influenced by a community's performance in providing adequate low- and moderate-income housing. The bill also mandates the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to evaluate and report on multilingual learner (MLL) students and their family income levels, with deadlines set for October 1, 2023, and October 1, 2024. Local education agencies are required to allocate funds for expanding learning opportunities while ensuring basic education programs are adequately funded. The act aims to create a comprehensive overview of education funding in relation to community housing efforts and is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
6003: 16-7.2-3