About Senator Miller

Democratic Caucus Policy Chair
Chairman, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
Member, Senate Committee on Labor
Member, Governor’s Task Force to Tackle Plastics Pollution

Josh Miller was first elected as State Senator representing District 28 in 2006, which was then Cranston/Warwick and is now Cranston/Providence. Within a short time, he earned a reputation as a leader on environmental and small business issues and as an advocate for less fortunate Rhode Islanders. Josh has since lead efforts to create jobs, protect the health of our community and environment, and ensure the concerns of District 28 are voiced loud and clear at the State House. As previous chairman of the Senate Committee on Corporations (now known as the Senate Committee on Commerce), Josh was credited with turning the focus of the committee toward protecting consumer rights and facilitating job growth among small businesses. 

Senator Miller has been involved in legislative efforts to make health insurance more affordable to ratepayers and employers, and sponsored a bill that successfully eliminated health status as a factor in insurance rates. He sponsored the far reaching legislation to control health care costs, increase transparency, and improve quality, including provisions to establish standards and incentives for transitioning from traditional fee-for-service payments to alternative models.

Senator Miller was a driving force behind enactment of legislation providing parity in coverage of mental health and substance use disorders. He championed a package of legislation addressing the mental health system, aimed at improving preventative services and treatment, as well as a package of legislation addressing the opioid overdose crisis.

 A lifelong Rhode Islander, Josh is a small business owner who has established a number of successful restaurants in the Providence area. An active member of his community, Josh has served on a number of nonprofit boards and in local community organizations. An alumni of Hope High School and the University of Rhode Island, Josh and his wife Nancy reside in the Edgewood section of Cranston. Their son, Nicholas, attends Yale University.

In recognition of his hard work and activism, Josh has received several awards including:

  • Earth Day Champion: Elected Official of the Year, Clean Water Action, May 2019

  • The “Never Again” Award, Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, May 2019

  • Covering Kids Award, RI Kids Count, 2018

  • The Keefe Award, Young Democrats of Rhode Island, 2017

  • The Sister Ann Keefe Award, The Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, 2016

  • The Jim Gillen Advocacy Award, 2017

  • “Bell of Hope” Award, Mental Health Association of RI, 2013

  • Environmental Hero of the Year, 2008

  • PWCVB Hall of Fame Inductee, 2006

  • Restauranteur of the Year, 2000

 

A Leader in the State Senate

Senator Miller has previously served as:

  • Committee on Corporations, Chairman

  • Senate Committee on Climate Change, Co-Chair

  • Commission to Study Decriminalization of Marijuana, Chairman

  • Small Business Task Force, Vice Chair

  • Commission on Emergency Dept. Diversion, Co-Chair

  • Commission to Study Clean Diesel, Chairman

  • Special Senate Commission on Hospital Cost & Efficiency, Chair

  • Governor’s Overdose Commission, Member

  • Governor’s Reinventing Medicaid Task Force, Member

  • Special Senate Commission to Study the Challenges Facing Commercial Development and the Redevelopment of Historic Buildings, Chair

  • Special Commission to Study Health Plan Patient Liability Provisions on Access to Healthcare and Provider Financial Condition, Chair

  • Special Legislative Commission to Study Building Structured Parking at the Garrahy Judicial Complex, Chair

  • Joint Legislative Commission to Study the Integration of Primary Care and Behavioral Health, Chair

An Active Member of the Community

  • Downtown Merchants Association, President 1999-2006

  • RI Hospitality and Tourism Association, Board Member; Political Affairs, Vice Chair 1998-2004

  • Providence/Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, Board Member 1998-2006

  • Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Board Member 2001-2005

  • Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-Violence, Advisory Committee Member

  • Crossroads Rhode Island Vocational Services, Advisory Committee Member

  • Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Board Member 2005-2007

  • Rhode Island Small Business Advocacy Council, Board Member

  • Health Insurance Commissioners Advisory Committee, Member 2006

  • Community Boating Center, Founding Board Member