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Rhode Island House approves private marriage act, adopts memorials and proclaims CRNA Week
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Summary
On Jan. 20, 2026, the Rhode Island House approved a private act allowing a local marriage on a 62‑0 machine vote, adopted resolutions honoring the late Naija A. Gonzales and former corrections director Ashbel T. Wall II, and proclaimed Jan. 18–24, 2026 as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Week.
The Rhode Island House of Representatives on Tuesday approved an act to permit a private marriage and adopted multiple resolutions honoring two recently deceased Rhode Islanders and recognizing nurse anesthetists.
Representative Lita Chippendale presented an act to allow Frank Pekosy to marry Madeline Marie Hopkins and Cameron David Sharan in Warwick, and moved its passage with the consent of leadership. The clerk conducted a machine vote after Representative Hopkins indicated she would recuse herself; the clerk announced 62 votes in favor, 0 against, and the act was approved and transmitted to the Senate.
Chairman Corvesi, speaking for the leadership, introduced a house resolution proclaiming Jan. 18–24, 2026 as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Week in Rhode Island. The resolution notes the role of CRNAs in rural care and their service during the coronavirus pandemic and was left on the desk for additional signatures.
Representative Geraldo rose to introduce a resolution honoring the life of Naija A. Gonzales, described in the resolution as a 19‑year‑old from Central Falls and Pawtucket who aspired to a nursing career, participated in dance and volunteer work, and whose family attended the House session. "May Naija's memory forever be a blessing," Geraldo said as he asked colleagues to sign the resolution.
Representative Dawson offered a second memorial, honoring Ashbel T. Wall II (often referred to in the record as AT Wall), a longtime director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections who, the resolution says, served from the mid‑1980s through 2018 and initiated programs including medication‑assisted treatment for inmates. Dawson asked that this resolution be left on the desk for signatures.
All presented resolutions were put to the House and adopted by voice vote; the speaker directed the clerk to transmit certified copies to families and other appropriate recipients. Leader Lita Blazajewski moved the House to adjourn in memory of Naija A. Gonzales and Ashbel T. Wall II; the motion was seconded and the chamber observed a moment of silence before adjourning.
In other business, Leader Blazajewski reminded members that the next session is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m., and that the annual ethics training with Ethics Commission Executive Director Jason Grama will be held in the House lounge prior to session (attorneys may receive one ethics CLE credit).
The House proceedings and the adopted resolutions were recorded in the official Journal and the clerk read the full text of the resolutions into the record prior to adjournment.
