2026 -- H 8628

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LC006455

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND THANKING SPEAKER K. JOSEPH SHEKARCHI FOR HIS

EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE STATE OF RHODE

ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Blazejewski, Kazarian, Chippendale, Cotter, Hull,
Corvese, J. Lombardi, Fogarty, Shallcross Smith, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: June 11, 2026

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Honorable K. Joseph Shekarchi has distinguished himself through

strong leadership, tireless advocacy, and a deep dedication to serving the people of Rhode Island

throughout his tenure in the House of Representatives, including more than five years as Speaker

of the House, after first being elected by his colleagues in January 2021 and subsequently re-

elected in 2023 and 2025; and

     WHEREAS, Speaker Shekarchi served as House Majority Leader from November 2016

through 2020, previously chaired the House Labor Committee, and has proudly represented

District 23 in the City of Warwick since first being elected to the House of Representatives in

November of 2012; and

     WHEREAS, Addressing Rhode Island’s housing crisis was a cornerstone of Speaker

Shekarchi’s legislative agenda, as he led passage of more than 60 housing-related laws and

transformative initiatives that created the State’s first dedicated funding stream for affordable

housing, established Rhode Island’s first Department of Housing led by a cabinet-level secretary,

prohibited housing discrimination against recipients of rental assistance, and secured historic

investments to combat homelessness and expand affordable housing opportunities, including

voter approval of a $120 million housing bond in 2024; and

     WHEREAS, Speaker Shekarchi was a tireless advocate for accessible and equitable

healthcare, championing legislation and budget initiatives that strengthened Rhode Island’s

healthcare system through increased support for primary care providers, hospitals, and nursing

homes, while also advancing landmark protections for reproductive freedom, healthcare privacy,

and access to abortion care, including passage of the Health Care Provider Shield Act, the

Equality in Abortion Coverage Act, and the Reproductive Privacy Act; and

     WHEREAS, Under Speaker Shekarchi’s leadership, the General Assembly enacted

significant economic and tax reforms, including elimination of the tangible tax for most small

businesses, acceleration of the car tax phase-out, investments in life sciences and wet lab

incubators, and reforms to Rhode Island’s banking tax structure designed to protect jobs and

maintain competitiveness; and

     WHEREAS, Speaker Shekarchi supported economic development initiatives that created

thousands of private-sector jobs and helped secure a $250 million economic development

agreement protecting more than 1,100 Rhode Island jobs and one of the state’s largest revenue

sources; and

     WHEREAS, A strong advocate for working families, Speaker Shekarchi championed

landmark pay equity legislation prohibiting wage discrimination while also supporting legislation

raising wages and establishing safe staffing levels in nursing homes; and

     WHEREAS, Speaker Shekarchi also strengthened educational opportunity by helping

make the Rhode Island Promise program permanent and supporting expanded affordable higher

education opportunities for Rhode Island students and families; and

     WHEREAS, He further demonstrated his commitment to Rhode Island’s future through

leadership on renewable energy initiatives and passage of the landmark Act on Climate, one of

the most consequential environmental measures enacted in decades; and

     WHEREAS, Beyond his legislative service, Speaker Shekarchi graduated from Mount St.

Charles Academy and Suffolk University, where he earned both his undergraduate and law

degrees, and has enjoyed a successful legal career spanning more than thirty years, including

service as Warwick Solicitor and longtime legal counsel to the Warwick Housing Authority; and

     WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Warwick, Speaker Shekarchi announced his

resignation during his third term in order to seek nomination to the Rhode Island Supreme Court,

concluding a historic chapter of public service marked by compassion, innovation, and dedication

to the people of Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

honors and thanks Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi for his outstanding leadership, dedicated service,

and countless contributions to the people of Rhode Island, and furthermore extends its deepest

gratitude and best wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to The Honorable K. Joseph Shekarchi.

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