Representative Joseph M. McNamara

Joseph M. McNamara is a Democratic state representative from Rhode Island who represents District 19, which encompasses Warwick and Cranston. Born on September 7, 1950, in Providence, Rhode Island, McNamara currently resides in Warwick. He is married to Diane and has two children, William and Katie.

McNamara has been an active member of various civic organizations, including the Irish Social Club, Warwick Firefighters Association, and Save The Bay. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and has served in leadership roles within scouting programs.

Education

McNamara holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University and a Master of Education degree from Providence College.

Political Experience

McNamara was first elected to the Rhode Island State House of Representatives in November 1994 and has served continuously since then. He currently holds several significant positions:

• Chair of the House Education Committee
• Member of the House Labor Committee
• Member of the House Rules Committee
• Member of the House Conduct Committee
• Chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party

He previously served as Deputy Majority Leader of the Rhode Island State House of Representatives and as chair of the Point and Non-Point Pollution Study Commission.

Notable Achievements

During the 2025 legislative session, McNamara introduced and sponsored several significant pieces of legislation, including:

• A law making federally mandated school 504 plans part of state law
• A law allowing Rhode Island to join the state dietitian licensure compact
• Laws to create a school budget commission in Warwick and allow more students to ride passenger vans

In 2023, McNamara's education-focused initiatives became law, including the Hope Scholarship pilot program, which provides two years of tuition coverage for eligible students at Rhode Island College, and legislation improving access to school-based psychological services through Medicaid reimbursement.