Sen. Thompson sworn in as General Assembly convenes
STATE HOUSE — Sen. Brian Thompson (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland) was formally sworn into office today as the 2025-2026 term of the Rhode Island General Assembly convened.
Senator Thompson was one of six new members of the Senate who took the oath of office, which was administered to all 38 Senate members by Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore.
The Senate began its legislative year with a program of activities that included the re-election of Dominick J. Ruggerio as president of the Senate.
Prior to his election to the Senate, Senator Thompson served a two-year term as a member of the Woonsocket City Council.
Originally from Massachusetts, Senator Thompson has lived in Woonsocket for more than 20 years. He works as a general foreman for a sheet metal contractor. He and his wife, Christine, have six children who have attended Woonsocket’s public schools.
Senator Thompson was appointed to serve on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the Senate Labor Committee, which is expected to be changed to the Committee on Labor and Gaming.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee handles all legislation and matters relative to public health and welfare; health care and human service access and quality; health and human service professional standards of practice, and facility standards of care. The Senate Labor and Gaming Committee deliberates legislation relating to workers’ compensation and labor laws in addition to laws regarding gambling and games of chance.
The Department of Education is being gutted. Staff received an email Tuesday notifying them they had to vacate the department's headquarters by 6 p.m. The email said the closure was "for security reasons." Just a few hours later, a senior department official announced over 13-hundred staffers received notifications that they're being fired. 
