Honoring Representative Robert E. Craven Sr. for His Service to the People of the State of Rhode Island

WHEREAS, It is with great respect and appreciation that this House bids farewell to our good friend and colleague, the Honorable Robert E. Craven Sr., who is not seeking reelection in 2026 after more than a decade of devoted public service to the citizens of District 32 in North Kingstown and the people of the State of Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, The Honorable Robert E. Craven Sr. has served with honor and distinction as the State Representative from District 32 since his first election in November 2012, representing his constituents with integrity, diligence, and a steadfast dedication to public service; and

WHEREAS, Representative Craven has been a longstanding member of the House Judiciary Committee, the House Innovation and Technology Committee, and the House Small Business Committee, and served as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee from 2019 through 2025, providing leadership and thoughtful guidance on legal and public policy issues facing the State; and

WHEREAS, During the 2025 legislative session, Representative Craven sponsored and enacted legislation that protects employees’ rights in the workplace concerning political and religious matters, establishing a civil action with potential damages and attorneys’ fees, and sponsored legislation granting the Rhode Island Family Court concurrent jurisdiction over juvenile cases arising on military bases and installations located in Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, Representative Craven also sponsored two laws as part of Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s 2025 housing package: one requiring municipalities to provide for village or mixed-use zoning to allow residential use in commercial zoning districts, and another to ease barriers to necessary housing production based on comprehensive stakeholder feedback; and

WHEREAS, In 2024, Representative Craven sponsored laws designed to spur housing production in Rhode Island and introduced legislation to simplify the process of changing an individual’s name in municipal probate court while updating statutory language to be gender neutral and more inclusive; and

WHEREAS, During the 2023 legislative session, Representative Craven sponsored a law increasing penalties for wage theft and introduced legislation addressing subdivision and land development standards to promote needed housing opportunities; and

WHEREAS, In 2022, in response to the pandemic’s economic effects on small businesses, Representative Craven sponsored a law creating a temporary non-liquidating receivership program to assist small businesses experiencing significant revenue loss due to emergency declarations; and

WHEREAS, Born on November 19, 1955, Representative Craven graduated from La Salle Academy in Providence in 1974, earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1978, and received his Juris Doctor from New England Law | Boston in 1983; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his legislative service, Representative Craven is an attorney at Robert E. Craven & Associates in North Kingstown, and serves as Assistant Solicitor in Charlestown, Probate Judge for the Town of Charlestown, Solicitor for the Exeter West Greenwich Regional School District, Solicitor in New Shoreham, and Assistant Solicitor in Westerly, demonstrating his deep commitment to law and community service; and

WHEREAS, Representative Craven’s distinguished record of public service also includes roles as Solicitor for the Town of Foster, Assistant Solicitor for the City of East Providence, Legal Counsel to the Rhode Island Board of Elections, Assistant Attorney General including Chief of the Rhode Island Public Corruption Unit, and Town Councilor in North Kingstown, as well as service as an adjunct professor at the Community College of Rhode Island from 1983 to 2002; and

WHEREAS, Representative Craven resides in Saunderstown with his wife Susan, and is the proud father of two sons, Robert and Joseph; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby honors and thanks Representative Robert E. Craven Sr. for his many years of dedicated and meaningful service to his constituents and to the State, and extends its best wishes for health, happiness, and 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 Robert E. Craven Sr.