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H8636
2026 -- H 8636
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LC006126
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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 JASON KNIGHT FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE
OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By:
Representatives Blazejewski, Kazarian, Speakman, Chippendale,
Caldwell, Boylan, McEntee, Dawson, Spears, and Donovan
Date Introduced:
June 11, 2026
Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Jason Knight has proudly represented the residents of
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District 67 in the towns of Barrington and Warren since his election to the Rhode Island House of
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Representatives in November 2016, serving with distinction, energy, and integrity; and
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WHEREAS, Representative Knight was named a Deputy Majority Leader in January
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2021 and currently serves as First Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee and as a member
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of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the House State Government
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and Elections Committee, providing thoughtful leadership on complex legal, environmental, and
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governmental issues; and
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WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure in the General Assembly, Representative Knight has
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been a strong advocate for public safety and common-sense firearms regulation, sponsoring and
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cosponsoring numerous measures, including the 2025 law banning the sale of assault weapons in
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Rhode Island, the 2021 law banning “straw purchases” of firearms, safe storage requirements, and
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the prohibition of high-capacity magazines and bump stocks, and strengthening oversight of gun
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sales; and
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WHEREAS, Representative Knight has championed many efforts to reform and
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strengthen Rhode Island’s criminal justice system, including sponsoring legislation eliminating
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certain court fees to prevent unnecessary re-incarceration, expanding opportunities to seal arrest
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records for individuals who have been acquitted or exonerated, and waiving expungement fees to
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reduce barriers to fair outcomes; and
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WHEREAS, In 2025, Representative Knight sponsored and passed legislation
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modernizing Rhode Island’s laws to address nonconsensual explicit material, including updating
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the State’s “revenge porn” statute to encompass “deepfakes,” and sponsored legislation enabling
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municipalities to establish tax credit programs for senior property owners who volunteer in their
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communities; and
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WHEREAS, In his first term, Representative Knight enacted legislation allowing
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religious organizations to require national criminal background checks for volunteers working
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with children, and he has cosponsored many other bills advancing fair elections, environmental
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protections, and economic justice; and
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WHEREAS, Outside of the General Assembly, Representative Knight has served both
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his country and community with distinction. He served eight years in the United States Navy as
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an enlisted nuclear power operator, including instructing at the Naval Nuclear Power Prototype
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facility in Idaho and serving aboard the USS Albuquerque, and later pursued a career in law after
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earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emerson College and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk
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University Law School; and
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WHEREAS, Following his military and legal education, Representative Knight was
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admitted to the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Bars and served as a special assistant attorney
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general before founding a private law practice specializing in criminal defense and serving his
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community through leadership roles with Temple Habonim and Arts Alive!; and
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WHEREAS, Representative Knight resides in Barrington with his wife Nicole and their
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two children, embodying a lifelong commitment to family, service, and civic participation; and
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WHEREAS, Representative Knight has announced his candidacy for Attorney General of
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the State of Rhode Island, seeking to bring his legal experience, legislative insight, and
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commitment to justice to the highest law enforcement office in the State; 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 Jason Knight for his dedicated service to the people of
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Barrington, Warren, and the State of Rhode Island and extends its best wishes for continued
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success in his campaign and all 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 Jason Knight.
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LC006126
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