Rhode Island House of Representatives

@BooksAreWings, a Rhode Island nonprofit organization that puts free books into the hands of children, honored @JenStewartRI with its Elizabeth M. Dennigan Community Champion award for her support and sponsorship of the Freedom to Read Act, which the General Assembly enacted in 2025.

“I’m so grateful to Books Are Wings for providing children across Rhode Island — especially in our most struggling communities — with books,” said Rep. Stewart. “I look forward to continuing to support our librarians, authors, readers, public schools, public libraries and all who value learning alongside groups like Books Are Wings and the Imagination Library.”

In addition to Representative Stewart, the award was given to @senatormckenney and @DavidMoralesPVD, who also sponsored the legislation.

More info: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_…

Happy birthday to House Finance Chair Marvin Abney!

The House Judiciary Committee, chaired by @repmcentee33, will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. to hear testimony on the nomination of Superior Court Associate Justice Luis M. Matos to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

The meeting will be televised by @RICapitolTV and livestreamed at rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/de…, where a recording will be available to view on demand.

More details: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_…

The Special Legislative Commission to Study Housing Affordability, led by @junespeakman, will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m.for presentations on cost-drivers of affordable housing and nonprofit affordable housing production.

The meeting will be televised by @RICapitolTV and will livestream at rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/de…, where a recording will be available to view on demand.

The commission is scheduled for a presentation from @RIPEC_ Senior Policy Analyst Jeffrey S. Hamill on “Cost Drivers of Affordable Housing in Rhode Island,” and another from @NWBRV Executive Director Joe Garlick titled “Nonprofit Mission Driven Affordable Housing Production: Harmonizing Community Development, Cost & Rhode Islanders’ Housing Needs.”

More details: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_…

The House Democratic Caucus unanimously reaffirmed its support for Speaker @CBlazejewski and re-elected Majority Leader @repkazarian last night at the Caucus meeting held at Spain Restaurant.

With the Caucus vote, Leader Kazarian will remain in the role for her first full two-year term after taking office on May 7, 2026, making history as Rhode Island’s first female Majority Leader.

Speaker Blazejewski will be officially voted upon for re-election by the full membership of the House on the first day of the new session on January 5, 2027. There are 66 Democrats, eight Republicans and one Independent.

“Leader Kazarian and I are humbled to earn the support of our Democratic colleagues,” said Speaker Blazejewski. “As parents of young children, we both understand how expensive it is to raise a family right now. Rhode Islanders are working hard and they deserve a legislature that works just as hard.”

More details: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_…