Rhode Island H8631: HOUSE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 61ST ANNUAL GASPEE DAYS CELEBRATION AND THE MOMENTOUS 254TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BURNING OF THE

What the bill says

From the introduced text, June 11, 2026:

2026 -- H 8631 ======== LC006118 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ HOUSERESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 61ST ANNUAL GASPEE DAYS CELEBRATION AND THE MOMENTOUS 254TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BURNING OF THE GASPEE Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Blazejewski, Kazarian, Chippendale, Paplauskas, Hopkins, Place, Fascia, Roberts, and Nardone Date Introduced: June 11, 2026 Referred To: House read and passed WHEREAS, On the night of June 9, 1772, brave Rhode Island colonists captured and burned the reviled British revenue schooner, H.M.S. Gaspee, in one of the boldest and most colorful victories in our country's War for American Independence; and WHEREAS, The Gaspee had been harassing Rhode Island since the days of the Stamp Act. Its burning off Namquid Point was an ultimate act of defiance and has become renowned as the first blood shed during the American Revolution and America's "First Blow for Freedom". The colonists actions were a supreme act of protest against the tyranny of the British Crown, and they provided a strong impetus in the movement of the American colonies toward independence; and WHEREAS, The burning of H.M.S. Gaspee led to the formation of a Committee of Correspondence, which in turn led to the establishment of the Continental Congress, and, eventually, to the Declaration of Independence; and WHEREAS, Today, two hundred and fifty-four years later, the memory …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• McNamara, Joseph (D, HD-019) · primary sponsor
• Christopher Blazejewski (D)
• Katherine Kazarian (D, HD-063)
• Michael Chippendale (R, HD-040)
• Christopher Paplauskas (R)
• Marie Hopkins (R, HD-021)
• David Place (R, HD-047)
• Richard Fascia (R, HD-042)
• Sherry Roberts (R)
• George Nardone (R)

Latest actions

1. June 11, 2026: House read and passed

Common questions

What is H8631?

H8631 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): HOUSE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 61ST ANNUAL GASPEE DAYS CELEBRATION AND THE MOMENTOUS 254TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BURNING OF THE.

What does H8631 do?

HOUSE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 61ST ANNUAL GASPEE DAYS CELEBRATION AND THE MOMENTOUS 254TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BURNING OF THE GASPEE

What is the status of H8631?

Passed both chambers as of June 11, 2026. Latest action: House read and passed (June 11, 2026).

Who sponsored H8631?

McNamara, Joseph (D, HD-019), with 9 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for H8631?

On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8631.pdf