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

Rhode Island Senate
Rhode Island General Assembly
Type
Type	Upper House
Term limits	None
History
New session started	January 1, 2019
Leadership
President of the Senate	Dominick J. Ruggerio (D) since March 23, 2017
President pro Tempore	Harold Metts (D) since January 3, 2017
Majority Leader	Michael McCaffrey (D) since March 23, 2017
Minority Leader	Dennis Algiere (R) since January 7, 1997
Majority Whip	Maryellen Goodwin (D) since January 6, 2009
Structure
Seats	38
Political groups	Majority   Democratic (33) Minority   Republican (5)
Length of term	2 years
Authority	Article VI, Constitution of Rhode Island
Salary	Senator: $15,958 per year President: $31,917 per year
Elections
Last election	November 6, 2018 (38 seats)
Next election	November 3, 2020 (38 seats)
Meeting place
Senate Chamber Rhode Island State Capitol Providence, Rhode Island
Website
Rhode Island Senate

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 the majority of 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.

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.

The current President of the Senate is Democrat Dominick J. Ruggerio of District 4 (Providence). The current Senate Majority Leader is Michael McCaffrey of District 4 (Providence). The Senate Minority Leader is Dennis Algiere of District 38 (Westerly, Charlestown).

Democratic Leadership

• 
  Dominick J. Ruggerio (D) - President of the Senate


• 
  Harold Metts (D) – President Pro Tempore


• 
  Michael McCaffrey (D) – Majority Leader


• 
  Maryellen Goodwin (D) – Majority Whip


• 
  Ryan Pearson (D) – Senior Deputy Majority Leader


• 
  Gayle Goldin (D) – Deputy Majority Whip

Republican Leadership

• 
  Dennis Algiere (R) – Minority Leader


• Elaine Morgan (R) - Minority Whip


• Thomas Paolino (R) - Deputy Minority Leader

Committee Leadership

• 
  William Conley, Jr. (D) – Committee on Finance


• 
  Frank A. Ciccone (D) – Committee on Labor


• 
  Frank Lombardi (D) – Committee on Rules, Ethics, and Government Oversight


• 
  Walter Felag (D) – Committee on Special Legislation & Veterans' Affairs


• 
  Hanna Gallo (D) – Committee on Education


• 
  Erin Lynch Prata (D) – Committee on the Judiciary


• 
  Joshua Miller (D) – Committee on Health & Human Services


• 
  V. Susan Sosnowski (D) – Committee on the Environment & Agriculture


• 
  Frank Lombardo (D) – Committee on Housing & Municipal Government


• 
  Roger Picard (D) – Committee on Commerce

Make-up of the Senate

2019-2021 Legislative Session

Members of the Rhode Island Senate

Key Senate Staff

• Stephen S. Iannazzi - Chief of Staff to the President


• Kristen M. Silvia – Deputy Chief of Staff / Director of Legislation


• Kate Bramson – Director of Policy


• Richard Shahagian – Chief Legal Counsel


• Jacob Bissaillon – Special Assistant to the Majority Leader


• Patricia McNeilly – Chief of Staff to the Minority Leader


• Stephen Whitney – Senate Fiscal Advisor


• Greg Pare – Director of Communications


• John S. Baxter, Jr. – Director of Constituent Services

^[1]

Past composition of the Senate

See also

• Rhode Island State Capitol


• Rhode Island General Assembly


• Rhode Island House of Representatives

References

External links

• Rhode Island District Maps