The proposed bill establishes a new chapter in Title 16 of the General Laws, titled "Guaranteed Admission for Eagle Scout and Gold Award Recipients." It mandates that beginning with applications submitted for the Fall 2026 academic term and every term thereafter, public institutions of higher education in Rhode Island, including the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and the Community College of Rhode Island, shall grant automatic admission to any applicant who is a resident of Rhode Island, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout from Scouting America or the Gold Award from the Girl Scouts of the USA, and meets all minimum application submission requirements established by the institution.

The bill requires applicants seeking admission under this section to provide official documentation of their Eagle Scout rank or Gold Award to the admissions office of the applicable institution. It specifies that nothing in this chapter shall require an institution to admit an applicant into specialized, capacity-limited, or accreditation-restricted programs, such as nursing, engineering, pharmacy, or fine arts audition-based programs. However, 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.

The bill also includes a non-discrimination clause, stating that 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. Furthermore, it grants the council on postsecondary education and each public institution of higher education the authority to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter, including procedures for documentation, deadlines, and admission notification. Lastly, the bill clarifies that it does not guarantee financial aid, tuition waivers, or scholarships, does not alter residency requirements for in-state tuition, and does not prohibit institutions from adopting additional policies that expand access or create further pathways for admission. The act will take effect upon passage.