Gov. McKee Signs Bill Requiring Legislative Approval for Federal Education Tax Credit Opt-In

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed H 7163, a bill requiring both the General Assembly and the governor to agree before the state could opt into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program. The bill passed the House by a vote of 57-13 and the Senate by a vote of 34-4, with support largely divided along party lines. According to Ballotpedia News, this action made Rhode Island the first Democratic trifecta state to pass such a law concerning the program. The signing occurred amid other legislative and executive actions by McKee during the same period, though these represent separate, unrelated matters rather than corroborating details of the tax credit bill itself. Separately, on June 12, McKee signed the state's Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which included provisions described by the Governor's Office as investments addressing cost-of-living concerns, protections against federal funding cuts, and support for infrastructure projects, including the start of in-water construction on the Washington Bridge. On June 1, McKee also signed a separate housing legislative package that included a measure permitting homeowners to build a single accessory dwelling unit on their property. The exact date of the H 7163 signing was not specified in available reporting, only that it occurred and was reported by June 23, 2026. Details such as the bill's implementation timeline, specific provisions beyond the joint-approval requirement, and any statements from McKee or legislative leaders regarding the education tax credit law were not included in the available reporting. The relationship, if any, between the three separate legislative actions—H 7163, the FY2027 budget, and the housing package—was not established in the source material, and each should be understood as a distinct action taken by the governor within the same general timeframe.