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.

Applicants seeking admission under this section must provide official documentation of their achievement to the admissions office of the applicable institution. The bill clarifies that it does not require institutions to admit applicants into specialized, capacity-limited, or accreditation-restricted programs, nor does it guarantee financial aid, tuition waivers, or scholarships, or alter residency requirements for in-state tuition. Additionally, the admission process must be conducted without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. The council on postsecondary education and each public institution of higher education are granted the authority to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter, including procedures for documentation, deadlines, and admission notification. The act will take effect upon passage.