Media Advisory: New commission forming to study impacts of technology on education and mental health

STATE HOUSE – A new House commission begins meeting this week to study the use and impacts of digital technology on children, public education and mental health.

The Special Legislative Commission to Study the Use and Impact of Digital and Electronic Technology in Public Education and on Mental Health will hold an organizational meeting Thursday, Oct. 15, at 4 p.m. in Room 101 on the first floor of the State House. No public testimony will be taken at this meeting.

The 14-member commission will study numerous aspects of the use of digital technology in public schools, ways to ensure applications used by children are designed with their best interests in mind, issues that arise with minors holding social media accounts, the use of artificial technology in mental healthcare treatment, and the use of AI companion technology and its potential impact on suicidal ideation and physical or financial harm.

The meeting will be televised by Capitol Television, which can be seen by Cox Communications subscribers on channels 15 and 61 for high definition, on channel 15 by i3Broadband viewers, and channel 34 for Verizon subscribers. Livestreaming will be available at https://www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx.

The legislation creating the commission (2026-H 8345A) combined concepts from several bills included in a package of legislation put forward by Rep. Justine Caldwell (D-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich), Rep. Megan L. Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Richmond, Hopkinton) and Rep. Tina L. Spears (Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly) — all mothers of children and teens — to address growing concerns around social media use and digital technology use by establishing new safeguards designed to reduce risks such as exposure to harmful content, exploitation and adverse mental health impacts among users, particularly children.

All three representatives have been appointed to the commission. The commission also includes Rep. Brian C. Newberry (R-Dist. 48, North Smithfield, Burrillville), Attorney General’s Office Civil Division Deputy Chief Assistant Attorney General Sarah Rice, R.I. State Police Lt. Detective Brian Macera of the Computer Crimes Unit, Rhode Island Foundation Director of Education and Student Success Rachel Folan, Rogers High School teacher Patrick Wygant, Providence Public Schools teacher Thomas Nolan, R.I. Association of School Principals Executive Director Robert Littlefield, Family Services of Rhode Island CEO Margaret Holland McDuff, University of Rhode Island professor Renee Hobbs, East Greenwich parent Sabrina Weiss and EdTechRI President Michael Sujka.

 

For more information, contact:
Larry Berman, Communications Director for the Office of the Speaker
State House Room 322
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 447-2655