Joseph J. Solomon Jr.
Chair, House Corporations Committee
Member, House Oversight Committee
Member, House Veterans' Affairs Committee
Joseph
J. Solomon Jr. (D) was first elected in November 2014 as the State
Representative from District 22, Warwick. Representative Solomon is the chair
of the House Corporations Committee and is a member of the House Oversight
Committee and the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
During
the most recent session he introduced a law designed to help curb the theft
of catalytic converters. He also introduced legislation to construct safety
barriers on Rhode Island bay bridges to deter suicide attempts. That proposal
made its way into the 2022-23
state budget, which includes funding to study the feasibility of the
project.
A
strong advocate for the elderly, Representative Solomon sponsored a new law in
2021 that requires
financial institutions to report suspected financial exploitation of
seniors to the Office of Healthy Aging.
In
2019, he sponsored a law to create the Rhode
Island Small Business Development Fund, which is designed to encourage the
formation of private capital investment in small business by federally licensed
investment companies.
During
the 2018 session, he sponsored a law to allow existing sexual education
curriculum to incorporate age-appropriate elements of effective and
evidence-based programs on the law and meaning
of consent in the context of existing family life courses.
In
2017, Representative Solomon introduced an animal-protection
law that requires that the sheltering and nourishment of dogs conform to
the industry standards established by the Tufts Animal Care and Conditions Scale.
He also successfully introduced a Justice Reinvestment reform bill that allows
those individuals with prior convictions for possession with intent to deliver
or crimes of violence, to be eligible for the drug court program in Superior
Court.
Representative
Solomon has received the Golden Paw Award from Animal Rescue Rhode Island for
his advocacy for animals. He was also presented with the Humane Heroes Award by
Defenders of Animals. He was also recognized by the Physicians Committee for
Responsible Medicine for his efforts in sponsoring legislation to ban the ongoing,
lethal animal use in medical training.
An
attorney and business owner, he is licensed to practice law in Rhode Island,
Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, as well as the U.S. District Courts
in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He is a member of the Rhode Island Bar
Association.
Born
September 4, 1983, Representative Solomon graduated in 2001 from Bishop
Hendricken High School, received his Bachelor’s degree in accounting from
Providence College in 2005, and obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from New
England Law Boston in 2008.