Representative Scott A. Slater
Deputy Majority Leader
First Vice Chair, House Finance Committee
Member, House Rules Committee
Member, House Special Legislation Committee
Scott A. Slater (D) has served the people of
Providence in District 10 since winning a special election in November 2009
to fill the seat after the passing of his father, Thomas Slater. He is a
Deputy Majority Leader. Representative Slater is the first vice chair of the
House Finance Committee and chairs that committee's Education Subcommittee.
He also serves as a member of the House Rules Committee and the House
Special Legislation Committee. Representative Slater is also a member
of the Permanent Joint Committee on State Lottery.
During the 2024
legislative session, Representative Slater introduced a new law that
prohibits “captive hunting" in Rhode Island. “Captive hunting" is
defined in the legislation as a hunt that occurs within a structure designed
to restrict the free movement of animals and prevents the animal from
escaping. He also sponsored another new law that
allows cannabis cultivators to advertise their services within the state.
In 2023, Representative Slater was the primary sponsor of a new law which
would allow
the state's recreational cannabis dispensaries to advertise their products. Previously,
Rhode Island's cannabis businesses were unable to advertise by law, although
dispensaries in other states, such as Massachusetts, were allowed to
advertise within Rhode Island.
He also introduced legislation which
would increase the daily rate of payments to nursing facilities by 20
percent for single occupancy rooms to include private bathrooms and a bill
which would create an income-sensitive tiered subsidy program to ensure that
home energy utility costs are affordable for eligible low-income households.
After many years of advocacy, in 2022, Representative
Slater's legislation to legalize recreational adult use of cannabis was
signed into law.
Aside from his legislative duties, he works as a
budget analyst for the City of Providence. He earned a bachelor's degree at
Bryant University. Born on May 28, 1975, he
is married to Bianca Rodriguez and they have two daughters, Mia and
Madeline.