Rhode Island Legislative Committee Appoints New Director

Lisa Tomasso has been named executive director of the Joint Committee on Legislative Services, succeeding the retiring Henry Kinch.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in People

Rhode Island Legislative Committee Appoints New Director

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Speaker Christopher Blazejewski announced the appointment of Lisa Tomasso as the new executive director for the state's Joint Committee on Legislative Services. She replaces Henry Kinch, who has retired from the position following a long career in public service.

Why it matters

The Joint Committee on Legislative Services manages the operational and administrative functions of the state legislature, meaning the committee's leadership change directly impacts the internal infrastructure and resource management for Rhode Island state operations.

The transition replaces a leader with a decades-long judicial background with a successor who recently represented seventeen hospitals via the Hospital Association of Rhode Island. The outgoing director served in the role starting in 2021.

The players

Christopher Blazejewski

The Speaker of the House and chairman of the Joint Committee on Legislative Services who oversees state legislative administration.

Lisa Tomasso

The incoming executive director of the Joint Committee on Legislative Services with a background as a former legislator and hospital industry representative.

Henry Kinch

The retiring executive director of the Joint Committee on Legislative Services and former clerk of the Superior Court.

The details

The Joint Committee on Legislative Services oversees the non-partisan administrative and operational functions of the Rhode Island General Assembly. Lisa Tomasso brings experience from the private sector as a former vice president at the Hospital Association of Rhode Island and a former State Representative. This change follows the retirement of Henry Kinch, whose tenure in public service included decades as a Superior Court clerk and a term on the Pawtucket City Council.

Henry Kinch served as clerk of the Superior Court for Washington County from 1991 to 1996.
Henry Kinch served as clerk of the Superior Court for Providence and Bristol counties from 1996 to 2021.
Henry Kinch served on the Pawtucket City Council from 2007 to 2011.
Lisa Tomasso served as a State Representative from 2011 to 2014.
Henry Kinch served as executive director of JCLS starting in 2021.

Market Landscape

The appointment marks a formal leadership succession following the 2021 transition that originally installed Henry Kinch in the executive director role. This change signals a continued turnover in the administrative management of Rhode Island legislative infrastructure.

Business operators interacting with the legislature should anticipate potential shifts in administrative procedures or engagement protocols as a new director assumes control of legislative operations. Monitor the committee's public notices for any adjustments to procurement or administrative guidelines.

The takeaway

Legislative administrative leadership dictates how state policy infrastructure is maintained and serviced for local operators. Business owners should track shifts in the committee's administrative workflows to anticipate changes in compliance or legislative engagement standards.