The President of the Rhode Island Senate is the presiding officer of the Rhode Island Senate. Unlike most other states, the lieutenant governor of Rhode Island does not preside over the state senate. Instead, the lieutenant governor has roles in "emergency preparedness and homeland security".[1]
| President of the Senate of Rhode Island | |
|---|---|
 | |
since April 29, 2025 | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Term length | Two years, renewable |
| Inaugural holder | Joseph A. Montalbano, 2003 |
| Formation | Constitution of Rhode Island |
The role of president was established in 2003. Rhode Island Constitution provides that the lieutenant governor would no longer preside over the Senate in 2003, and power would be transferred to a president elected by senators.[2] The first elected president was Joseph A. Montalbano, a Democrat from North Providence.
List
edit| # | Name | Party | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joseph A. Montalbano | Democratic | 2003 – January 5, 2009 |
| 2 | M. Teresa Paiva-Weed | Democratic | January 6, 2009 – March 24, 2017 |
| 3 | Dominick J. Ruggerio | Democratic | March 24, 2017 – April 21, 2025 |
| 4 | Valarie Lawson | Democratic | April 29, 2025 – present |
References
edit- ↑ Hurst, Julia (July 1, 2011). "The Constant Evolution of the Office of Lieutenant Governor" (PDF). National Lieutenant Governors Association. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
- ↑ "Constitution of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations". State of Rhode Island General Assembly. Retrieved August 21, 2017.