Representative Kathleen A. Fogarty
Chair, House Rules Committee
First Vice Chair, House Municipal Government and Housing Committee
Member, House Environment and Natural Resources Committee
Member, House Health and Human Services Committee
Kathleen A. Fogarty (D) was first elected in November 2014 to the seat
in House District 35, South Kingstown. She is the chair of the House
Special Legislation Committee and is a member of the House Environment
and Natural Resources Committee, the House Health and Human Services
Committee and the House Municipal Government and Housing Committee.
During the 2023 session, she sponsored a law that mandates insurance
coverage for any
screenings deemed medically necessary for any person who has
received notice of dense breast tissue in accordance with applicable
American College of Radiology guidelines.
The 2022 session saw many of Representative Fogarty’s initiatives signed
into law, including bills protecting the environment, mental health
access, and elderly rights. She sponsored a new law to
improve the safety of dams throughout the state by requiring the
State Building Code Standards Committee to take into account the effect
of climate change on inundation areas below dams. She introduced a law
that addresses the
shortage of mental health counselors by creating a two-tiered
licensing structure. She also sponsored a law that makes it easier for
senior citizens to apply for
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
A longtime advocate for the University of Rhode Island, Representative
Fogarty championed a $50 million bond to fund repairs and
construct new facilities at the University of Rhode Island’s
Narragansett Bay Campus to help URI reach its true potential in
oceanographic education and research. She also introduced a new law that
allows university
trustee members to remotely participate in meetings.
During the 2021 session, she sponsored a new law that
helps commercial fisheries by allowing for the direct dockside sale
of fish.
In 2017, Chairwoman Fogarty introduced a law that
bans the use of hand-held mobile devices while operating a motor
vehicle. The new law took effect on June 1, 2018.
In 2016, she introduced legislation that requires elementary schools to have
at least
20 minutes of free play recess during the school day. The new law
defines free play as being in an unstructured environment supervised by
appropriate school personnel.
Prior to her election to the House of Representatives, she was a member
of the South Kingstown Town Council from 2002 to 2012, serving as the
council president from 2008 to 2010 and as the vice president from 2004
to 2008.
Born July 29, 1965, she and her husband, Brendan J. Fogarty, have two
children, Brendan and Lauren.
Employed as an Industrial Security Specialist at Raytheon Technologies,
Representative Fogarty graduated from Smithfield High School in 1983 and
received her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Service Administration
from Providence College in 1987.