2026 -- H 8638

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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 REPRESENTATIVE DAVID MORALES FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE

OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Blazejewski, Kazarian, Potter, Chippendale, Cruz,
Batista, McGaw, J. Lombardi, Stewart, and Felix

     Date Introduced: June 11, 2026

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Honorable David Morales was first elected to the Rhode Island House

of Representatives in 2020 to represent the residents of District 7 in the City of Providence,

including the Mount Pleasant, Valley, and Elmhurst neighborhoods, and has served his

constituents with energy, dedication, and a strong commitment to public service; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Morales serves as a member of the House Labor Committee,

the House Innovation and Technology Committee, and the House Municipal Government and

Housing Committee, and in 2025 was elected Co-Chair of the Rhode Island Black, Latino,

Indigenous, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander (RIBLIA) Caucus; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout his legislative service, Representative Morales has been a

strong advocate for Rhode Island workers and families, sponsoring legislation to ban tip theft,

prohibit employers from threatening to report an employee’s immigration status in retaliation for

whistleblowing, extend the winter utility shut-off moratorium, and help prevent childhood lead

poisoning by allowing tenants exposed to hazardous lead conditions to place rent in escrow until

repairs are completed; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Morales has also championed legislation to improve access

to affordable health care, including laws prohibiting insurers from charging copayments for

COVID-19 treatment and vaccinations and capping the cost of certain specialty medications used

to treat serious illnesses; and

     WHEREAS, In the 2025 legislative session, Representative Morales sponsored the

Freedom to Read Act, legislation protecting libraries and their patrons from partisan book-

banning efforts and affirming the free speech rights of authors, publishers, and readers throughout

Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Morales has also supported numerous legislative initiatives

and state budget priorities benefiting Rhode Islanders, including efforts to expand access to health

coverage for low-income children, strengthen public education funding, support the Rhode Island

Community Food Bank and public libraries, and enhance protections for workers, tenants, and

consumers; and

     WHEREAS, Born on September 16, 1998, Representative Morales was raised by a single

immigrant mother in Soledad, California. He graduated from Soledad High School in 2016,

earned a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from the University of California, Irvine, and in

2019 became the youngest graduate in the history of the Brown University Public Affairs

master’s program; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Morales currently serves as Director of Community

Programs at the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council and is a member of the National

Association of Latino Elected Officials, and he holds the distinction of being the youngest Latino

ever elected to a state legislature; and

     WHEREAS, Inspired by his upbringing and lived experience, Representative Morales has

been a passionate advocate for public education, labor rights, and policies that expand

opportunity and economic security for working families; and

     WHEREAS, Outside of his legislative and professional responsibilities, Representative

Morales has competed as a professional wrestler with the Renegade Wrestling Alliance, where he

is a two-time HYPE Champion, demonstrating determination and discipline both inside and

outside of public service; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Morales has announced his candidacy for Mayor of the City

of Providence, seeking to continue his public service on behalf of the residents of Rhode Island’s

capital city; now, therefore be it

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

honors and thanks Representative David Morales for his dedicated service to the people of the

City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island, and wishes him the very best health, happiness,

and 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 David Morales.

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