Rhode Island Senate
Upper house of the Rhode Island General Assembly
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The Rhode Island Senate is the upper house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, the lower house being the Rhode Island House of Representatives. It is composed of 38 Senators, each of whom is elected to a two-year term. Rhode Island is one of the 14 states where its upper house serves at a two-year cycle, rather than the normal four-year term as in most states. There is no limit to the number of terms that a Senator may serve. The Rhode Island Senate meets at the Rhode Island State Capitol in Providence.
Rhode Island Senate | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the Rhode Island Senate | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
New session started | January 7, 2025 |
| Leadership | |
President pro tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 38 |
  | |
Political groups | Majority (34)
Minority (4) |
Length of term | 2 years |
| Authority | Article VI, Constitution of Rhode Island |
| Salary | $19,036/year |
| Elections | |
| First-past-the-post | |
Last election | November 5, 2024 |
Next election | November 3, 2026 |
| Redistricting | Legislative Control |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Senate Chamber Rhode Island State Capitol Providence, Rhode Island | |
| Website | |
| Rhode Island Senate | |
Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to executive departments, commissions and boards and Justices to the Rhode Island Judiciary.
Senate leadership
The President of the Senate presides over the body, appointing members to all of the Senate's committees and joint committees, and may create other committees and subcommittees if desired. Unlike most other states, the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island does not preside over the Senate, and is instead active in other areas such as state commissions on health and businesses. In the Senate President's absence, the President Pro Tempore presides.
Democratic leadership
- Valarie Lawson (D) - President of the Senate[1]
- Frank Ciccone (D) – Majority Leader[1]
Republican leadership
- Jessica de la Cruz (R) – Minority Leader
- Gordon Rogers (R) – Minority Whip
Committees
| Committee | Chair |
|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies | Victoria Gu (D) |
| Commerce | Robert Britto (D) |
| Education | Hanna Gallo (D) |
| Environment and Agriculture | V. Susan Sosnowski (D) |
| Finance | Louis DiPalma (D) |
| Health and Human Services | Melissa Murray (D) |
| Housing and Municipal Government | Jake Bissaillon (D) |
| Judiciary | Matthew LaMountain (D) |
| Labor and Gaming | John Burke (D) |
| Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight | Mark McKenney (D) |
| Special Legislation and Veterans' Affairs | Walter Felag (D) |
Make-up of the Senate
- 2025–2027 Legislative Session
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) |
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | Ind | Vacant | ||
| 2011-2012 | 29 | 8 | 1 | 38 | 0 |
| 2013-2014 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 38 | 0 |
| Begin 2015 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 38 | 0 |
| 2015-2016 | 33 | 0 | |||
| Begin 2017 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| 2017-2019 | 32 | 1 | |||
| Begin 2019 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| Begin 2023 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| Begin 2025 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| April 21, 2025[a] | 33 | 37 | 1 | ||
| August 5, 2025[b] | 34 | 38 | 0 | ||
| Latest voting share | 89.5% | 10.5% | |||
Members of the Rhode Island Senate
- *Senator was elected in a special election
Past composition of the Senate
See also
Notes
- Democratic Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (District 4) died April 21, 2025.
- Democrat Stefano Famiglietti elected to succeed Ruggerio.
- Incumbent Democrat Sandra Cano resigned September 12, 2024, and Urso was selected to replace her on the ballot.