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H8633
2026 -- H 8633
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LC006123
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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 ROBERT E. CRAVEN SR. FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By:
Representatives Blazejewski, Kazarian, McEntee, Chippendale, Fellela,
Ajello, Caldwell, Dawson, Morales, and Corvese
Date Introduced:
June 11, 2026
Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, It is with great respect and appreciation that this House bids farewell to our
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good friend and colleague, the Honorable Robert E. Craven Sr., who is not seeking reelection in
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2026 after more than a decade of devoted public service to the citizens of District 32 in North
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Kingstown and the people of the State of Rhode Island; and
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Robert E. Craven Sr. has served with honor and distinction
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as the State Representative from District 32 since his first election in November 2012,
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representing his constituents with integrity, diligence, and a steadfast dedication to public service;
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and
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WHEREAS, Representative Craven has been a longstanding member of the House
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Judiciary Committee, the House Innovation and Technology Committee, and the House Small
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Business Committee, and served as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee from 2019 through
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2025, providing leadership and thoughtful guidance on legal and public policy issues facing the
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State; and
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WHEREAS, During the 2025 legislative session, Representative Craven sponsored and
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enacted legislation that protects employees’ rights in the workplace concerning political and
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religious matters, establishing a civil action with potential damages and attorneys’ fees, and
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sponsored legislation granting the Rhode Island Family Court concurrent jurisdiction over
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juvenile cases arising on military bases and installations located in Rhode Island; and
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WHEREAS, Representative Craven also sponsored two laws as part of Speaker K.
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Joseph Shekarchi’s 2025 housing package: one requiring municipalities to provide for village or
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mixed-use zoning to allow residential use in commercial zoning districts, and another to ease
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barriers to necessary housing production based on comprehensive stakeholder feedback; and
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WHEREAS, In 2024, Representative Craven sponsored laws designed to spur housing
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production in Rhode Island and introduced legislation to simplify the process of changing an
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individual’s name in municipal probate court while updating statutory language to be gender
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neutral and more inclusive; and
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WHEREAS, During the 2023 legislative session, Representative Craven sponsored a law
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increasing penalties for wage theft and introduced legislation addressing subdivision and land
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development standards to promote needed housing opportunities; and
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WHEREAS, In 2022, in response to the pandemic’s economic effects on small
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businesses, Representative Craven sponsored a law creating a temporary non-liquidating
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receivership program to assist small businesses experiencing significant revenue loss due to
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emergency declarations; and
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WHEREAS, Born on November 19, 1955, Representative Craven graduated from La
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Salle Academy in Providence in 1974, earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode
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Island in 1978, and received his Juris Doctor from New England Law | Boston in 1983; and
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WHEREAS, In addition to his legislative service, Representative Craven is an attorney at
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Robert E. Craven & Associates in North Kingstown, and serves as Assistant Solicitor in
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Charlestown, Probate Judge for the Town of Charlestown, Solicitor for the Exeter West
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Greenwich Regional School District, Solicitor in New Shoreham, and Assistant Solicitor in
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Westerly, demonstrating his deep commitment to law and community service; and
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WHEREAS, Representative Craven’s distinguished record of public service also includes
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roles as Solicitor for the Town of Foster, Assistant Solicitor for the City of East Providence,
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Legal Counsel to the Rhode Island Board of Elections, Assistant Attorney General including
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Chief of the Rhode Island Public Corruption Unit, and Town Councilor in North Kingstown, as
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well as service as an adjunct professor at the Community College of Rhode Island from 1983 to
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2002; and
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WHEREAS, Representative Craven resides in Saunderstown with his wife Susan, and is
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the proud father of two sons, Robert and Joseph; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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honors and thanks Representative Robert E. Craven Sr. for his many years of dedicated and
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meaningful service to his constituents and to the State, and extends its best wishes for health,
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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
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Robert E. Craven Sr.
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