Representative Joshua J. Giraldo
First Vice Chair, House Health and Human Services Committee
Member, House Education Committee
Member, House Special Legislation Committee
Member, House Veterans' Affairs Committee
Joshua J. Giraldo (D) was first elected in a special election in March 2020 to the seat in House District 56 in Central Falls. He is the first vice chair of the House Health Human Services Committee and a member of the House Education Committee, House Special Legislation Committee, and the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.
During the 2024 session, he sponsored a new law that expands Rhode Island's Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) program from six weeks to eight, allowing new parents more time for parental leave and caregivers more time to care for a critically ill family member.
A strong advocate for opioid policy reform, he sponsored a law in 2023 that allows the collecting of information from overdose deaths to aid in prevention strategies. He also received the John Fogarty Award from the Governor's Commission on Disabilities for his sponsorship of a law that removes harmful disability-related language in state law, implementing the use of appropriate disability language by replacing outdated terms.
In 2022, he sponsored a new law that require state employees to undergo cultural competency training in a program created by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Opportunity. He also sponsored legislation that requires specifically reserved parking spaces for individuals transporting young children under the age of three years old in baby strollers.
During the 2021 session, he sponsored a law that authorized the City of Central Falls to issue bonds of $5.76 million to finance the construction and renovation of schools in the city. Central Falls voters later approved the referendum.
He also sponsored a new law that prohibits the waiving of rules and regulations relating to minority-owned businesses involved with state contracts during periods such as a declared state of emergency. He also sponsored a law that prohibits discrimination against a potential organ transplant recipient based solely on a physical or mental disability.
Representative Giraldo is the Chief of Human Capital for Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy. He served as chief of staff for Central Falls Mayor James Diossa from October 2015 to July 2020. Before that, he worked as a teacher at Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy and as a family literacy instructor at Dorcas Place Family Learning Center. He also served as director of the Central Falls Department of Parks and Recreation for two years before becoming chief of staff.
A graduate of Central Falls High School in 2004, he earned a bachelor's degree in elementary and secondary education from Providence College in 2008.
Representative Giraldo, who was born on November 18, 1986, resides in Central Falls with his wife Maité and their three daughters, Valentina, Catalina, and Isabella.