Honoring and Thanking Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi for His Exemplary Leadership and Dedicated Service to the State of Rhode Island

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 1,1 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

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.