Representative Marvin L. Abney
Chair, House Committee on Finance
Member, House Committee on Conduct
Member, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Marvin L. Abney (D) has served the residents of Newport and Middletown in District 73 since first being elected in November 2012. In May 2016, he was named chairman of the House Finance Committee, which is tasked with adopting the annual state budget. He also serves on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the House Committee on Conduct and the Special Legislative Commission on Defense Economy Planning.
In 2024, Chairman Abney sponsored the $13.963 billion 2025 fiscal year budget. The budget directs additional funding toward education and children, raises Medicaid reimbursement rates and includes a $120 million affordable housing bond.
During the 2023 legislative session, Chairman Abney was the primary sponsor of the $14 billion 2024 fiscal year budget that commits funding toward addressing the housing crisis, supports business development and makes education funding more equitable, while limiting the use of one-time revenue to one-time expenditures.
He also introduced a new law which increases the percentage set aside for affordable housing units in qualifying projects, and, in turn, increases the number of allowable units per acre for all housing projects subject to inclusionary zoning.
He serves on the National Conference of State Legislators' (NCSL) Foundation Board of Directors. He is a member of the Council of State Governments' (CSG) National Leadership Team and a member of the CSG Eastern Region Executive Committee. In addition, Chairman Abney served as a member of the 2012 Electoral College.
Chairman Abney is a retired Major of the United States Army after a 20-year Army career, including a tour of duty as a detachment commander at NATO Headquarters with responsibilities in Belgium; The American Embassy, Paris, France; and the Netherlands. He also retired from the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, where he held the position of executive assistant to the commissioner. He taught general business courses at City Colleges of Chicago, European Division.
Born on November 10, 1949, he attended Dunbar High School in Texarkana, Texas, and in 2018 was honored by the Texarkana Independent School District as a Distinguished Alumnus.
He earned his bachelor's degree in public administration at Stephen F. Austin State University in 1975, a master's of management degree from Webster University in 1982, a master's of business administration from the University of Rhode Island in 2000, and a certificate of advanced graduate study in educational leadership from Johnson & Wales University in 2005. He also attended the Command and General Staff College in Munich, Germany in the late 1980s.
Representative Abney has a long history of involvement in community organizations and boards, such as the Board of Governors, Newport Health Care Corporation; Board of Directors, Redwood Library and Athenaeum; the Newport Zoning Board of Review; Salve Regina University's Internal Review Board; the Martin Luther King Jr. Center; Board of Corporators, BankNewport; and Newport County YWCA.
He lives in Newport with his wife, Cheryl Lynn (Amado). He is the father of Marvin L. Abney II, U.S. Army Major (P), Christian A. Abney, and Tess A. Abney. He is the grandfather of five: Sierra, Jade, Mia, Dakota, and Bleu. He is a four-time finisher of the New York City Marathon and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.