The House passed a bill that would make it a felony to threaten school employees.
Those convicted would face up to five years in prison and/or fines up to five-thousand-dollars.
Unions support the bill noting the escalating threat of violence directed at both teachers and administrators.
The bill now moves to the state senate.
The ACLU of Rhode Island said the bill raises constitutional concerns because it makes criminal a wide variety of comments made in the heat of the moment that would not be seen as true threats.