Senator Jacob "Jake" Bissaillon
Secretary, Senate Committee on Special Legislation & Veterans' Affairs
Member, Senate Committee on Judiciary
Member, Senate Committee on Rules,
Government Ethics & Oversight
Jacob Bissaillon is a Democrat representing District 1 (Providence) in the Rhode
Island Senate.
Elected to the Senate in a November 2023 special election,
Sen. Bissaillon is an experienced advocate and public administrator who has held
numerous leadership positions in state and local government. Currently, he is
employed as Chief Executive Officer of Justice Assistance, which is a Rhode
Island based non-profit that provides services to individuals involved with the
justice system.
Jake served as Chief of Staff for Rhode Island Senate
President Dominick J. Ruggerio for three legislative sessions from 2021-2023.
Before that, he worked as legal counsel to former Senate Majority Leader Michael
J. McCaffrey and Chief of Staff to the Providence City Council under Council
President Michael A. Solomon. During his time in leadership positions on the
Senate staff, Sen. Bissaillon played a role in advancing significant legislation
across a range of policy areas, including passage of the historic Act on
Climate; comprehensive changes to Rhode Island criminal law referred to as
“Justice Reinvestment"; adoption of the Let RI Vote Act to expand ballot access;
enactment of common-sense gun safety laws, including a prohibition on
high-capacity magazines; establishment of a $15 minimum wage; issuance of child
tax credits to support Rhode Island families; tax relief for seniors, families,
and businesses, including the phase-out of the car tax; and more.
Sen.
Bissaillon was born on April 6, 1987. The oldest of three siblings, Jake is the
son of Ernie and Ellen, who are public school teachers. Jake studied political
science at Providence College after graduating from St. John's Preparatory
School in Danvers, Massachusetts. He earned his bachelor's degree in 2009 and an
MBA in 2010. He graduated from Roger Williams University School of Law in 2016
and is admitted to practice law in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Jake's
political involvement began during his time at Providence College, when he
worked as a student organizer for former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign.
Jake and his wife, Kim, have two dogs, Winnie and Winston. He lives in
Providence's Elmhurst neighborhood.