View source for Rhode Island House of Representatives

{{Short description|Lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{primary sources|date=February 2014}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2014}}
}}
{{Coord|41.8310574|-71.4171443|display=title}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox legislature
| background_color = {{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}
| name          = Rhode Island<br>House of Representatives
| session_room  = Gallery view of the Rhode Island State House - House Chamber.jpg
| session_res   = 240px
| legislature   = 
| coa_pic       = Seal_of_the_Rhode_Island_House_of_Representatives.png
| coa_caption   = Seal of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
| house_type    = Lower house
| body          = Rhode Island General Assembly
| term_limits   = None
| new_session   = January 3, 2023
| leader1_type  = [[List of speakers of the Rhode Island House of Representatives|Speaker]]
| leader1       = [[Joe Shekarchi]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| election1     = January 5, 2021
| leader2_type  = Speaker pro tempore
| leader2       = [[Brian Patrick Kennedy|Brian Kennedy]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| election2     = January 12, 2017
| leader3_type  = Majority Leader
| leader3       = [[Christopher Blazejewski|Chris Blazejweski]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| election3     = January 5, 2021
| leader4_type  = Minority Leader
| leader4       = [[Michael Chippendale]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| election4     = June 23, 2022
| term_length   = 2 years
| authority     = Article VI, [[Constitution of Rhode Island]]
| salary        = Representative: $19,036/year
| members       = 75
| voting_system1    = [[First-past-the-post voting|First-past-the-post]]
| redistricting     = Legislative Control
| structure1    = 2023-2024_Rhode_Island_House_of_Representatives.svg
| structure1_res = 240px
| political_groups1 =
'''Majority (65)'''
*{{legend|{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|[[Rhode Island Democratic Party|Democratic]] (65)}}
'''Minority (10)'''
*{{legend|{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|[[Rhode Island Republican Party|Republican]] (9)}}
*{{legend|{{party color|Independent (United States)}}|[[Independent (United States)|Independent]] ([[Jon D. Brien|1]])}}
| last_election1    = [[2022 Rhode Island House of Representatives election|November 8, 2022]]
| next_election1    = [[2024 Rhode Island House of Representatives election|November 5, 2024]]

| meeting_place =  House of Representatives Chamber<br>[[Rhode Island State Capitol]]<br>[[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]], Rhode Island
| website       = [http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/representatives/default.aspx Rhode Island House of Representatives]
}}
The '''Rhode Island House of Representatives''' is the [[lower house]] of the [[Rhode Island General Assembly]], the [[state legislature (United States)|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 in the United States|term limits]]. The House meets at the [[Rhode Island State Capitol]] in [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/representatives/default.aspx/ | title= RI House of Representatives | access-date =2 February 2015}}</ref>

==House leadership==
{{Update|section|date=January 2023}}
The [[Speaker (politics)|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 leader|majority]] and [[minority leader]]s, are elected by their respective party caucuses relative to their party's strength in the chamber.

===Officers===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background-color:#cccccc;"
! Position
! Representative
! Party
! District
|-
| [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker of the House]] || [[Joe Shekarchi]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || 23
|- 
| [[Majority Leader]]|| [[Christopher Blazejewski]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || 2
|-
| [[Whip (politics)|Majority Whip]] || [[Katherine Kazarian]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || 63
|-
| Deputy Speaker || [[Raymond Hull (politician)|Raymond Hull]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || 6
|-
| Deputy Majority Whip || [[Mia Ackerman]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || 45
|-
| Majority Caucus Chair || [[Grace Diaz]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || 11
|-
| Speaker Pro Tempore || [[Brian Patrick Kennedy]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || 38
|-
| Majority Floor Manager || [[John Edwards (Rhode Island politician)|Jay Edwards]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || 70
|-
| Minority Leader || [[Michael Chippendale]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || 40
|-
| Minority Whip || [[David J. Place|David Place]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || 47
|-
| Senior Deputy Minority Leader ||[[Sherry Roberts]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || 29
|}

==Committee leadership==

{| class=wikitable
! Committee !!  Chair !! First Vice Chair !! Second Vice Chair
|-
!Conduct 
|| [[Camille Vella-Wilkinson]] || [[Thomas Noret]] || [[Deborah Fellela]]
|-
!Corporations
||[[Joseph J. Solomon Jr.]] || [[William O'Brien (Rhode Island politician)|William O’Brien]] || [[Justine Caldwell]]
|-
!Education
|[[Joseph McNamara (Rhode Island politician)|Joseph McNamara]] || [[Thomas Noret]] || [[Rebecca Kislak]]
|-
!Environment and Natural Resources 
|[[David Bennett (Rhode Island politician)|David Bennett]] ||  [[Robert Phillips (politician)|Robert Phillips]] ||  [[Lauren H. Carson]] 
|-
!Finance
|[[Marvin Abney]] || [[Scott A. Slater]] || [[Alex Marszalkowski]]
|-
!Health and Human Services
|[[Susan Donovan]] || [[Joshua Giraldo]] || [[Brandon Potter (politician)|Brandon Potter]]
|-
!Innovation, Internet and Technology
|[[Jacquelyn Baginski]] || [[Arthur Handy]] || [[Lauren Carson]]
|-
!Judiciary 
|| [[Robert Craven]] || [[Carol McEntee]] || [[Jason Knight (politician)|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 (Rhode Island politician)|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 (United States)|Democratic Party]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=State of Rhode Island General Assembly|url=https://www.rilegislature.gov/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=State of Rhode Island General Assembly|language=en-us}}</ref>

==Composition==
{{Update|section|date=January 2023}}

{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
!rowspan=3|Affiliation
!colspan=3|Party <div style="font-size:80%">(Shading indicates majority caucus)</div>
!rowspan=3|Total
!colspan=2|
|-style="height:5px"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent (United States)}}" |
| style="background:black" |
|-
![[Rhode Island Democratic Party|Democratic]]
![[Rhode Island Republican Party|Republican]]
![[Independent politician|Independent]]
!Vacant
|-
!nowrap style="font-size:80%"|End of 2014 session
|{{party shading/Democratic}}| 69
|6
|0
! 75
|0
|-
|colspan=6|
|-
!nowrap style="font-size:80%"|Beginning of 2015 session
|{{party shading/Democratic}}| 63
|11
|rowspan=2|1
!rowspan=2|75
|rowspan=2|0
|-
!nowrap style="font-size:80%"|End of 2016 session
|{{party shading/Democratic}}| 62
| 12
|-
|colspan=6|
|-
!nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2017-2018<ref>Rep. [[Blake Filippi]] switched parties from Independent to Republican before the start of session. [http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20161127/political-scene-ri-treasurer-plans-no-rash-moves-on-investments-in-trump-era]</ref>
|{{party shading/Democratic}}| 64
|11
|0
!75
|0
|-
|colspan=6|
|-
!nowrap style="font-size:80%"|Beginning of 2019 session
|{{party shading/Democratic}} rowspan=2| 66
|9
|0
!rowspan=2|75
|rowspan=2|0
|-
!nowrap style="font-size:80%"|June 23, 2020<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Calder|first1=John|date=2010-12-31|title=An Integrated International Approach to Arctic Ocean Observations for Society (A Legacy of the International Polar Year)|journal=Proceedings of OceanObs'09: Sustained Ocean Observations and Information for Society|pages=141–153|publisher=European Space Agency|doi=10.5270/oceanobs09.cwp.14|isbn=978-3-86987-200-1|doi-access=free}}</ref>
|8
|1
|-
|colspan=6|
|-
!nowrap style="font-size:80%"|Beginning of 2021 session
|{{party shading/Democratic}}| 65
|10
|0
!75
|0
|-
!nowrap style="font-size:80%"|Beginning of 2023 session
|{{party shading/Democratic}}| 65
|9
|1
!75
|0
|-
!Latest voting share
!{{party shading/Democratic}}|{{percentage|65|75|0}}
!{{percentage|9|75|0}}
!{{percentage|1|75|0}}
! colspan=2|
|}

===Members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives===
This list is of members elected in November 2022, to serve in the 2023–24 biennium.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://ballotpedia.org/Rhode_Island_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2016 | title= RI House of Representatives elections, 2016 | access-date =8 March 2017}}</ref>

{| class="sortable wikitable"
|- style="background-color:#cccccc;"
! District
! Representative
! Party
! Residence/other municipalities in district
! First elected
|-
| 1 || [[Edith Ajello]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] || 1992 
|-
| 2 || [[Christopher Blazejewski]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Providence || 2010
|-
| 3 || [[Nathan Biah]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Providence || 2020
|-
| 4 || [[Rebecca Kislak]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Providence || 2018
|-
| 5 || [[Anthony DeSimone]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Providence || 2022
|-
| 6 || [[Raymond Hull (politician)|Raymond Hull]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Providence || 2010
|-
| 7 || [[David Morales (politician)|David Morales]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Providence || 2020
|-
| 8 || [[John J. Lombardi]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Providence || 2012
|-
| 9 || [[Enrique Sanchez (politician)|Enrique Sanchez]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Providence || 2022
|-
| 10 || [[Scott A. Slater]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Providence || 2009
|-
| 11 || [[Grace Diaz]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Providence || 2004
|-
| 12 || [[Jose Batista (politician)|Jose Batista]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Providence || 2020
|-
| 13 || [[Ramon Perez (politician)|Ramon Perez]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Providence, Johnston || 2020 (2016–2018)
|-
| 14 || [[Charlene Lima]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Cranston, Rhode Island|Cranston]] || 1992
|-
| 15 || [[Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || Cranston || 2020
|-
| 16 || [[Brandon Potter (politician)|Brandon Potter]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Cranston || 2020
|-
| 17 || [[Jacquelyn Baginski]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Cranston || 2020
|-
| 18 || [[Arthur Handy]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Cranston || 2002
|-
| 19 || [[Joseph McNamara (Rhode Island politician)|Joseph McNamara]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Warwick, Rhode Island|Warwick]] || 1992
|-
| 20 || [[David Bennett (Rhode Island politician)|David Bennett]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Warwick || 2010
|-
| 21 || [[Marie Hopkins]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || Warwick || 2024
|-
| 22 || [[Joseph J. Solomon Jr.]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Warwick || 2014
|-
| 23 || [[Joe Shekarchi]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Warwick || 2012
|-
| 24 || [[Evan Shanley]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Warwick || 2016
|-
| 25 || [[Thomas Noret]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Coventry, Rhode Island|Coventry]] || 2018
|-
| 26 || [[Patricia Morgan]] ||{{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || [[West Warwick, Rhode Island|West Warwick]] || 2020 (2010–2018)
|-
| 27 || [[Patricia Serpa]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || West Warwick || 2006
|-
| 28 || [[George Nardone]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || Coventry || 2018
|-
| 29 || [[Sherry Roberts]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || Coventry || 2014
|-
| 30 || [[Justine Caldwell]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[East Greenwich, Rhode Island|East Greenwich]] || 2018
|-
| 31 || [[Julie Casimiro]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem ||[[North Kingstown, Rhode Island|North Kingstown, Exeter]] || 2016
|-
| 32 || [[Robert Craven]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || North Kingstown || 2012
|-
| 33 || [[Carol McEntee]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Narragansett, Rhode Island|Narragansett]], [[South Kingstown, Rhode Island|South Kingstown]] || 2015
|-
| 34 || [[Teresa Tanzi]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Narragansett, South Kingstown || 2010
|-
| 35 || [[Kathleen A. Fogarty]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || South Kingstown || 2014
|-
| 36 || [[Tina Spears]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Charlestown, Rhode Island|Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly]] || 2022
|-
| 37 || [[Samuel Azzinaro]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Westerly, Rhode Island|Westerly]] || 2008
|-
| 38 || [[Brian Patrick Kennedy]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Hopkinton, Rhode Island|Westerly, Hopkinton]] || 1988
|-
| 39 || [[Megan Cotter]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Richmond, Rhode Island|Richmond, Exeter, Hopkinton]] || 2022
|-
| 40 || [[Michael Chippendale]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || [[Coventry, Rhode Island|Coventry, Foster, Glocester]] || 2010
|-
| 41 || [[Robert Quattrocchi]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || [[Scituate, Rhode Island|Scituate]] || 2016
|-
| 42 || [[Edward Cardillo]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Johnston, Rhode Island|Johnston]] || 2020
|-
| 43 || [[Deborah Fellela]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Johnston || 2006
|-
| 44 || [[Gregory Costantino]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Lincoln, Rhode Island|Lincoln]] || 2012
|-
| 45 || [[Mia Ackerman]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Cumberland, Lincoln || 2012
|-
| 46 || [[Mary Ann Shallcross Smith]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Lincoln || 2020 (2008–2010)
|-
| 47 || [[David J. Place]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || [[Burrillville, Rhode Island|Burrillville, Glocester]] || 2018
|-
| 48 || [[Brian Newberry (politician)|Brian Newberry]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || [[North Smithfield, Rhode Island|North Smithfield]]||2008
|-
| 49 || [[Jon D. Brien]] || {{Party shading/Independent (US)}} | Ind || [[Woonsocket, Rhode Island|Woonsocket]]||2022 (2007–2012)
|-
| 50 || [[Stephen Casey]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Woonsocket|| 2012
|-
| 51 || [[Robert Phillips (politician)|Robert Phillips]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Woonsocket|| 2010
|-
| 52 || [[Alex Marszalkowski]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Cumberland, Rhode Island|Cumberland]]|| 2016
|-
| 53 || [[Brian Rea]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || [[Smithfield, Rhode Island|Smithfield]]|| 2022
|-
| 54 || [[William O'Brien (Rhode Island politician)|William O'Brien]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[North Providence, Rhode Island|North Providence]]|| 2012
|-
| 55 || [[Arthur Corvese|Arthur “Doc” Corvese]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || North Providence|| 1998
|-
| 56 || [[Joshua Giraldo]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Central Falls, Rhode Island|Central Falls]]
|2020
|-
| 57 || [[Brandon Voas]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Central Falls
|2022
|-
| 58 || [[Cherie Cruz]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Pawtucket, Rhode Island|Pawtucket]]
|2022
|-
| 59 || [[Jennifer Stewart]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Pawtucket
|2022
|-
| 60 || [[Karen Alzate]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Pawtucket
|2018
|-
| 61 || [[Leonela Felix]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Pawtucket
|2020
|-
| 62 || [[Mary Messier]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Pawtucket
|2009
|-
| 63 || [[Katherine Kazarian]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem ||[[East Providence, Rhode Island|East Providence]]
|2012
|-
| 64 || [[Brianna Henries]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || East Providence
|2020
|-
| 65 || [[Matthew Dawson (politician)|Matthew Dawson]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || East Providence
|2022
|-
| 66 || [[Jennifer Boylan (politician)|Jennifer Boylan]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Barrington, Rhode Island|Barrington]], East Providence
|2022
|-
| 67 || [[Jason Knight (politician)|Jason Knight]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Warren, Rhode Island|Warren]]
|2016
|-
| 68 || [[June Speakman]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Warren
|2019
|-
| 69 || [[Susan R. Donovan]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Bristol, Rhode Island|Bristol]]
|2016
|-
| 70 || [[John Edwards (Rhode Island politician)|John Edwards]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Tiverton, Rhode Island|Tiverton]]
|2008
|-
| 71 || [[Michelle McGaw]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Portsmouth, Rhode Island|Portsmouth]], Tiverton, Little Compton
|2020
|-
| 72 || [[Terri-Denise Cortvriend]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Middletown, Rhode Island|Middletown]], Portsmouth
|2018
|-
| 73 || [[Marvin Abney]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Middletown, [[Newport, Rhode Island|Newport]]
|2012
|-
| 74 || [[Alex Finkelman]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Jamestown, Rhode Island|Jamestown]], Middletown
|2022
|-
| 75 || [[Lauren H. Carson]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || Newport
|2014
|}

== Past composition of the House of Representatives ==
{{main|Political party strength in Rhode Island}}

==See also==
* [[Rhode Island State House]]
* [[Rhode Island General Assembly]]
* [[Rhode Island Senate]]
* [[List of Rhode Island General Assemblies]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/representatives/default.aspx Rhode Island House of Representatives] official government website
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081016064031/http://www.vcsnet.com/State.php?RI+House Map of Rhode Island State House Districts]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081021001021/http://www.vote-smart.org/official_state_legislator.php?type=office&state_id=RI&criteria=lower State House of Rhode Island] at [[Project Vote Smart]]
{{Rhode Island House of Representatives}}
{{United States legislatures}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rhode Island General Assembly]]
[[Category:State lower houses in the United States]]