Susan Donovan

Rhode Island House of Representatives

Susan Donovan has represented Bristol and Portsmouth since first being elected in November 2016. She was named Chair of Health and Human Services Chair in 2022. She is also a member of the House Education Committee and the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

She was the sponsor of major legislation in 2021 to ensure Pay Equity for all employees, regardless of gender or ethnicity.

She sponsored legislation to ensure vaccines remain accessible, affordable and grounded in public health science and requires health insurers to cover vaccines without cost-sharing barriers.

Representative Donovan sponsored legislation to help prevent suicide at gun ranges requiring non-members who visit member-based ranges to be accompanied at all times.

She was the sponsor a bill to allow patients and victims of domestic violence to protect their privacy by having their health care mailings directed to themselves instead of a spouse or parent.

She sponsored legislation that will help protect children’s health by providing information about type 1 diabetes to the parents and guardians of all public-school children.

She sponsored a bill prohibiting an unfair real estate practice targeting older adults, sometimes resulting in a lien against their property.

She introduced legislation to provide tax credits to help ease the burden in caring for an aging parent, spouse, or disabled family member.

Representative Donovan has sponsored or cosponsored numerous bills to improve the lives of children and families including increasing the minimum wage and nursing home standards.

Representative Donovan is a retired public-school teacher who received the first Governor’s Award for Wellness Innovation in the School Category in 2007 and in 2008, she was named Bristol Warren Teacher of the Year.  

(She has worked as an education consultant at the Brown University Institute of Community Health Promotion.)

Representative Donovan earned a B.S. in health and physical education as well as a master’s degree in school administration from Rhode Island College. She lives in Bristol with her husband, Glenn. They have three adult children and six grandchildren all who reside in Rhode Island.