Rhode Island House of Representatives

Lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources.
Find sources: "Rhode Island House of Representatives" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Rhode Island House of Representatives" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

(Learn how and when to remove this template message)

41°49′52″N 71°25′02″W﻿ / ﻿41.8310574°N 71.4171443°W﻿ / 41.8310574; -71.4171443

Rhode Island
House of Representatives

Seal of the Rhode Island House of Representatives

Type
Type|

Lower house

of the Rhode Island General Assembly

Term limits

| None
History

New session started

| January 3, 2023
Leadership

Speaker

Joe Shekarchi (D)
since January 5, 2021

Speaker pro tempore

Brian Kennedy (D)
since January 12, 2017

Majority Leader

Chris Blazejweski (D)
since January 5, 2021

Minority Leader

Michael Chippendale (R)
since June 23, 2022

Structure
Seats| 75

Political groups

| Majority (65)

* Democratic (65)

Minority (10)

* Republican (9)

* Independent (1)

Length of term

| 2 years
Authority| Article VI, Constitution of Rhode Island
Salary| Representative: $19,036/year
Elections

Voting system

| First-past-the-post

Last election

| November 8, 2022

Next election

| November 5, 2024
Redistricting| Legislative Control
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber
Rhode Island State Capitol
Providence, Rhode Island
Website
Rhode Island House of Representatives

The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, the upper house being the Rhode Island Senate. It is composed of 75 members, elected to two-year terms from 75 districts of equal population. The Rhode Island General Assembly does not have term limits. The House meets at the Rhode Island State Capitol in Providence.[1]

## House leadership[edit]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (January 2023)

|

The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The Speaker is elected by the majority party caucus followed by confirmation of the full House through the passage of a House Resolution. As well as presiding over the body, the Speaker is also the chief leadership position, and controls the flow of legislation. Other House leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses relative to their party's strength in the chamber.

### Officers[edit]

Position  | Representative  | Party  | District

|
|
|

Speaker of the House | Joe Shekarchi | Dem | 23
Majority Leader | Christopher Blazejewski | Dem | 2
Majority Whip | Katherine Kazarian | Dem | 63
Deputy Speaker | Raymond Hull | Dem | 6
Deputy Majority Whip | Mia Ackerman | Dem | 45
Majority Caucus Chair | Grace Diaz | Dem | 11
Speaker Pro Tempore | Brian Patrick Kennedy | Dem | 38
Majority Floor Manager | Jay Edwards | Dem | 70
Minority Leader | Michael Chippendale | Rep | 40
Minority Whip | David Place | Rep | 47
Senior Deputy Minority Leader | Sherry Roberts | Rep | 29

## Committee leadership[edit]

Committee | Chair | First Vice Chair | Second Vice Chair

|
|
|

Conduct  | Camille Vella-Wilkinson | Thomas Noret | Deborah Fellela
Corporations  | Joseph J. Solomon Jr. | William O’Brien | Justine Caldwell
Education  | Joseph McNamara | Thomas Noret | Rebecca Kislak
Environment and Natural Resources  | David Bennett | Robert Phillips | Lauren H. Carson
Finance  | Marvin Abney | Scott A. Slater | Alex Marszalkowski
Health and Human Services  | Susan Donovan | Joshua Giraldo | Brandon Potter
Innovation, Internet and Technology  | Jacquelyn Baginski | Arthur Handy | Lauren Carson
Judiciary  | Robert Craven | Carol McEntee | Jason Knight
Labor  | Arthur Corvese | Mary Messier | Karen Alzate
Municipal Government and Housing  | Stephen Casey | Kathleen Fogarty | June Speakman
Oversight  | Patricia Serpa | Julie Casimiro | Thomas Noret
Rules  | Kathleen Fogarty | William O'Brien | Patricia Serpa
Small Business  | Carol McEntee | Justine Caldwell | Terri-Denise Cortvriend
Special Legislation  | Karen Alzate | Grace Diaz | John J. Lombardi
State Government and Elections  | Evan Shanley | Mary Messier | Arthur Corvese
Veterans' Affairs  | Samuel Azzinaro | Deborah Fellela | Mary Ann Shallcross Smith

All chairs and vice chairs are members of the Democratic Party.[2]

## Composition[edit]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (January 2023)

|

Affiliation  | Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

| Total  |

|
|
|

|  |  |
Democratic | Republican | Independent | Vacant
End of 2014 session  | 69  | 6  | 0  | 75  | 0
Beginning of 2015 session  | 63  | 11  | 1  | 75  | 0
End of 2016 session  | 62  | 12
2017-2018[3] | 64  | 11  | 0  | 75  | 0
Beginning of 2019 session  | 66  | 9  | 0  | 75  | 0
June 23, 2020[4] | 8  | 1
Beginning of 2021 session  | 65  | 10  | 0  | 75  | 0
Beginning of 2023 session  | 65  | 9  | 1  | 75  | 0
Latest voting share  | 87%  | 12%  | 1%  |

### Members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives[edit]

This list is of members elected in November 2022, to serve in the 2023–24 biennium.[5]

District  | Representative  | Party  | Residence/other municipalities in district  | First elected

|
|
|
|

1 | Edith Ajello | Dem | Providence | 1992
2 | Christopher Blazejewski | Dem | Providence | 2010
3 | Nathan Biah | Dem | Providence | 2020
4 | Rebecca Kislak | Dem | Providence | 2018
5 | Anthony DeSimone | Dem | Providence | 2022
6 | Raymond Hull | Dem | Providence | 2010
7 | David Morales | Dem | Providence | 2020
8 | John J. Lombardi | Dem | Providence | 2012
9 | Enrique Sanchez | Dem | Providence | 2022
10 | Scott A. Slater | Dem | Providence | 2009
11 | Grace Diaz | Dem | Providence | 2004
12 | Jose Batista | Dem | Providence | 2020
13 | Ramon Perez | Dem | Providence, Johnston | 2020 (2016–2018)
14 | Charlene Lima | Dem | Cranston | 1992
15 | Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung | Rep | Cranston | 2020
16 | Brandon Potter | Dem | Cranston | 2020
17 | Jacquelyn Baginski | Dem | Cranston | 2020
18 | Arthur Handy | Dem | Cranston | 2002
19 | Joseph McNamara | Dem | Warwick | 1992
20 | David Bennett | Dem | Warwick | 2010
21 | Camille Vella-Wilkinson | Dem | Warwick | 2016
22 | Joseph J. Solomon Jr. | Dem | Warwick | 2014
23 | Joe Shekarchi | Dem | Warwick | 2012
24 | Evan Shanley | Dem | Warwick | 2016
25 | Thomas Noret | Dem | Coventry | 2018
26 | Patricia Morgan | Rep | West Warwick | 2020 (2010–2018)
27 | Patricia Serpa | Dem | West Warwick | 2006
28 | George Nardone | Rep | Coventry | 2018
29 | Sherry Roberts | Rep | Coventry | 2014
30 | Justine Caldwell | Dem | East Greenwich | 2018
31 | Julie Casimiro | Dem | North Kingstown, Exeter | 2016
32 | Robert Craven | Dem | North Kingstown | 2012
33 | Carol McEntee | Dem | Narragansett, South Kingstown | 2015
34 | Teresa Tanzi | Dem | Narragansett, South Kingstown | 2010
35 | Kathleen A. Fogarty | Dem | South Kingstown | 2014
36 | Tina Spears | Dem | Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly | 2022
37 | Samuel Azzinaro | Dem | Westerly | 2008
38 | Brian Patrick Kennedy | Dem | Westerly, Hopkinton | 1988
39 | Megan Cotter | Dem | Richmond, Exeter, Hopkinton | 2022
40 | Michael Chippendale | Rep | Coventry, Foster, Glocester | 2010
41 | Robert Quattrocchi | Rep | Scituate | 2016
42 | Edward Cardillo | Dem | Johnston | 2020
43 | Deborah Fellela | Dem | Johnston | 2006
44 | Gregory Costantino | Dem | Lincoln | 2012
45 | Mia Ackerman | Dem | Cumberland, Lincoln | 2012
46 | Mary Ann Shallcross Smith | Dem | Lincoln | 2020 (2008–2010)
47 | David J. Place | Rep | Burrillville, Glocester | 2018
48 | Brian Newberry | Rep | North Smithfield | 2008
49 | Jon D. Brien | Ind | Woonsocket | 2022 (2007–2012)
50 | Stephen Casey | Dem | Woonsocket | 2012
51 | Robert Phillips | Dem | Woonsocket | 2010
52 | Alex Marszalkowski | Dem | Cumberland | 2016
53 | Brian Rea | Rep | Smithfield | 2022
54 | William O'Brien | Dem | North Providence | 2012
55 | Arthur “Doc” Corvese | Dem | North Providence | 1998
56 | Joshua Giraldo | Dem | Central Falls | 2020
57 | Brandon Voas | Dem | Central Falls  | 2022
58 | Cherie Cruz | Dem | Pawtucket | 2022
59 | Jennifer Stewart | Dem | Pawtucket  | 2022
60 | Karen Alzate | Dem | Pawtucket  | 2018
61 | Leonela Felix | Dem | Pawtucket  | 2020
62 | Mary Messier | Dem | Pawtucket  | 2009
63 | Katherine Kazarian | Dem | East Providence | 2012
64 | Brianna Henries | Dem | East Providence  | 2020
65 | Matthew Dawson | Dem | East Providence  | 2022
66 | Jennifer Boylan | Dem | Barrington, East Providence  | 2022
67 | Jason Knight | Dem | Warren | 2016
68 | June Speakman | Dem | Warren  | 2019
69 | Susan R. Donovan | Dem | Bristol | 2016
70 | John Edwards | Dem | Tiverton | 2008
71 | Michelle McGaw | Dem | Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton  | 2020
72 | Terri-Denise Cortvriend | Dem | Middletown, Portsmouth  | 2018
73 | Marvin Abney | Dem | Middletown, Newport | 2012
74 | Alex Finkelman | Dem | Jamestown, Middletown  | 2022
75 | Lauren H. Carson | Dem | Newport  | 2014

## Past composition of the House of Representatives[edit]

Main article: Political party strength in Rhode Island

## See also[edit]

* Rhode Island State House
* Rhode Island General Assembly
* Rhode Island Senate

## References[edit]

1. ^ "RI House of Representatives". Retrieved February 2, 2015.
2. ^ "State of Rhode Island General Assembly". State of Rhode Island General Assembly. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
3. ^ Rep. Blake Filippi switched parties from Independent to Republican before the start of session. [1]
4. ^ Calder, John (December 31, 2010). "An Integrated International Approach to Arctic Ocean Observations for Society (A Legacy of the International Polar Year)". Proceedings of OceanObs'09: Sustained Ocean Observations and Information for Society. European Space Agency: 141–153. doi:10.5270/oceanobs09.cwp.14. ISBN 978-3-86987-200-1.
5. ^ "RI House of Representatives elections, 2016". Retrieved March 8, 2017.

## External links[edit]

* Rhode Island House of Representatives official government website
* Map of Rhode Island State House Districts
* State House of Rhode Island at Project Vote Smart

* v
* t
* e

Current members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives

Speaker of the House
Joe Shekarchi (D)
Speaker pro tempore
Brian Patrick Kennedy (D)
Majority Leader
Christopher Blazejewski (D)
Minority Leader
Michael Chippendale (R)

1. ▌Edith Ajello (D)
2. ▌Christopher Blazejewski (D)
3. ▌Nathan Biah (D)
4. ▌Rebecca Kislak (D)
5. ▌Anthony DeSimone (D)
6. ▌Raymond Hull (D)
7. ▌David Morales (D)
8. ▌John J. Lombardi (D)
9. ▌Enrique Sanchez (D)
10. ▌Scott A. Slater (D)
11. ▌Grace Diaz (D)
12. ▌Jose Batista (D)
13. ▌Ramon Perez (D)
14. ▌Charlene Lima (D)
15. ▌Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung (R)
16. ▌Brandon Potter (D)
17. ▌Jacquelyn Baginski (D)
18. ▌Arthur Handy (D)
19. ▌Joseph McNamara (D)
20. ▌David Bennett (D)
21. ▌Camille Vella-Wilkinson (D)
22. ▌Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D)
23. ▌Joe Shekarchi (D)
24. ▌Evan Shanley (D)
25. ▌Thomas Noret (D)
26. ▌Patricia Morgan (R)
27. ▌Patricia Serpa (D)
28. ▌George Nardone (R)
29. ▌Sherry Roberts (R)
30. ▌Justine Caldwell (D)
31. ▌Julie Casimiro (D)
32. ▌Robert Craven (D)
33. ▌Carol McEntee (D)
34. ▌Teresa Tanzi (D)
35. ▌Kathleen Fogarty (D)
36. ▌Tina Spears (D)
37. ▌Samuel Azzinaro (D)
38. ▌Brian Patrick Kennedy (D)
39. ▌Megan Cotter (D)
40. ▌Michael Chippendale (R)
41. ▌Robert Quattrocchi (R)
42. ▌Edward Cardillo (D)
43. ▌Deborah Fellela (D)
44. ▌Gregory Costantino (D)
45. ▌Mia Ackerman (D)
46. ▌Mary Ann Shallcross Smith (D)
47. ▌David J. Place (R)
48. ▌Brian Newberry (R)
49. ▌Jon D. Brien (I)
50. ▌Stephen Casey (D)
51. ▌Robert Phillips (D)
52. ▌Alex Marszalkowski (D)
53. ▌Brian Rea (R)
54. ▌William O'Brien (D)
55. ▌Arthur Corvese (D)
56. ▌Joshua Giraldo (D)
57. ▌Brandon Voas (D)
58. ▌Cherie Cruz (D)
59. ▌Jennifer Stewart (D)
60. ▌Karen Alzate (D)
61. ▌Leonela Felix (D)
62. ▌Mary Messier (D)
63. ▌Katherine Kazarian (D)
64. ▌Brianna Henries (D)
65. ▌Matthew Dawson (D)
66. ▌Jennifer Boylan (D)
67. ▌Jason Knight (D)
68. ▌June Speakman (D)
69. ▌Susan R. Donovan (D)
70. ▌John Edwards (D)
71. ▌Michelle McGaw (D)
72. ▌Terri-Denise Cortvriend (D)
73. ▌Marvin Abney (D)
74. ▌Alex Finkelman (D)
75. ▌Lauren H. Carson (D)

* ▌Democratic (65)
* ▌Republican (9)
* ▌Independent (1)

* Rhode Island General Assembly
* Rhode Island House of Representatives
* Rhode Island Senate

* v
* t
* e

Legislatures of the United States

United States Congress|

* United States House of Representatives
* United States Senate

State legislatures|

* Alabama (H, S)
* Alaska (H, S)
* Arizona (H, S)
* Arkansas (H, S)
* California (A, S)
* Colorado (H, S)
* Connecticut (H, S)
* Delaware (H, S)
* Florida (H, S)
* Georgia (H, S)
* Hawaii (H, S)
* Idaho (H, S)
* Illinois (H, S)
* Indiana (H, S)
* Iowa (H, S)
* Kansas (H, S)
* Kentucky (H, S)
* Louisiana (H, S)
* Maine (H, S)
* Maryland (H, S)
* Massachusetts (H, S)
* Michigan (H, S)
* Minnesota (H, S)
* Mississippi (H, S)
* Missouri (H, S)
* Montana (H, S)
* Nebraska
* Nevada (A, S)
* New Hampshire (H, S)
* New Jersey (GA, S)
* New Mexico (H, S)
* New York (A, S)
* North Carolina (H, S)
* North Dakota (H, S)
* Ohio (H, S)
* Oklahoma (H, S)
* Oregon (H, S)
* Pennsylvania (H, S)
* Rhode Island (H, S)
* South Carolina (H, S)
* South Dakota (H, S)
* Tennessee (H, S)
* Texas (H, S)
* Utah (H, S)
* Vermont (H, S)
* Virginia (H, S)
* Washington (H, S)
* West Virginia (H, S)
* Wisconsin (A, S)
* Wyoming (H, S)

Other legislatures|

* District of Columbia
* American Samoa (H, S)
* Guam
* Northern Mariana Islands (H, S)
* Puerto Rico (H, S)
* U.S. Virgin Islands

Legislative elections|

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

List of U.S. state legislators

* v
* t
* e

State of Rhode Island

Providence (capital)

Topics|

* Outline
* Buildings and structures
* Colonial Colleges
* Communications
* Delegations
* Geography
* Government
* History
* Images
* Mass media
* newspapers
* radio
* TV
* Narragansett people
* People
* Quahog
* State symbols
* Thirteen Colonies
* Visitor attractions

Society|

* Abortion
* Climate change
* Crime
* Culture
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Gun laws
* LGBT rights
* Politics

Regions|

| Counties|

* Bristol
* Kent
* Newport
* Providence
* Washington

|

Geographic|

* Blackstone Valley
* Block Island

Historic|

* Rhode Island
* Providence Plantations

Cities|

* Central Falls
* Cranston
* East Providence
* Newport
* Pawtucket
* Providence
* Warwick
* Woonsocket

Towns|

* Barrington
* Bristol
* Burrillville
* Charlestown
* Coventry
* Cumberland
* East Greenwich
* Exeter
* Foster
* Glocester
* Hopkinton
* Jamestown
* Johnston
* Lincoln
* Little Compton
* Middletown
* Narragansett
* New Shoreham (Block Island)
* North Kingstown
* North Providence
* North Smithfield
* Portsmouth
* Richmond
* Scituate
* Smithfield
* South Kingstown
* Tiverton
* Warren
* West Greenwich
* West Warwick
* Westerly

Rhode Island portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Israel
* United States

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template