Lori Urso

Lori Urso is a Democrat representing District 8 (Pawtucket) in the Rhode Island State Senate. She was elected in November 2024. In her first year, Senator Urso passed legislation that amended the state’s Fair Employment Practices Act to require workplace accommodations for women during the menopause transition, making Rhode Island the first in the nation to enshrine these protections into law. That bill quickly became model legislation in numerous states and was passed as an ordinance by the Philadelphia City Council. Senator Urso also passed legislation in 2025 to create a pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians, as well as a bill to create and fund the Main Street Rhode Island coordinating program to establish a statewide community-based revitalization program for our historic downtown districts. Senator Urso brings a record of leadership and accomplishment in local government and the nonprofit sector. Since 2014, she has served as president and CEO of the Old Slater Mill Association, operating the Slater Industrial Archives, a library and repository for Pawtucket’s industrial history. She played a lead role in the transition of the Old Slater Mill National…