Jobs and the Economy

Dawn is dedicated to enhancing access to capital for our local businesses, simplifying the regulatory framework, and investing in job training to ensure our workers are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive. She has spearheaded legislation that positions Rhode Island as a frontrunner in the green economy, paving the way for the creation of sustainable, dependable local jobs that will have a positive impact on our communities and state. Dawn passed legislation for the removal of the exemption on minimum wage for domestic workers. In 2024, she voted along with her colleagues in passing legislation that provides much-needed relief for individuals in our pension system - marking the first significant change in decades. She continues to advocate for ratepayer protection and demanding that utility companies operate with transparency.

Seniors

Dawn understands the importance of assisting seniors in accessing vital information about support programs, reliable public transportation, and policies that enable them to age in place. She advocated for state budget increases to the Circuit Breaker Tax Credit, a program that offers property tax relief to eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities who own or rent their homes. Dawn also championed the elimination of taxes on military pensions and raised the threshold for pension income exempt from state taxation. Dawn is a leading advocate in the Senate for enhancing transparency and stability in our nursing homes. Additionally, she supported the passage of secure choice legislation, which facilitates retirement planning for those without access to employer-sponsored programs.

Environment & Climate Change 

Dawn is a dedicated environmentalist who understands that Rhode Island's natural beauty is a precious asset that must be safeguarded. As the former Chair of the Senate's Environment & Agriculture Committee, Dawn has been at the forefront of the fight against the climate crisis. She has worked tirelessly to reduce single-use plastics, protect pollinators from harmful pesticides, and set limits on PFAs, also known as "forever chemicals," in our water and food packaging.

One of Dawn's most significant achievements is the Act on Climate, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that updated Rhode Island's climate-emission reduction goals and made them legally enforceable. She is unwavering in her commitment to ensuring that these goals are met successfully.

Dawn is also a champion for environmental justice, advocating for all Rhode Islanders to have the right to a clean and healthy environment, regardless of their income, race, ethnicity, or zip code. While her Environmental Justice Act has passed in the Senate, it has yet to reach the Governor's desk.

Dawn is also a leading voice in advocating for the proper siting of solar farms to prevent the destruction of forests and misuse of open space. Her dedication to protecting Rhode Island's environment is unwavering, and her efforts are making a tangible impact on the state's sustainability efforts.

Healthcare

Dawn has been instrumental in securing significant victories to ensure that everyone has access to healthcare. In 2019, she played a crucial role in passing the Reproductive Privacy Act, which enshrined the central tenets of Roe v. Wade into Rhode Island statute. This year, Dawn championed the Healthcare Provider Shield Act, which protects providers of reproductive health care and gender-affirming care from hostile litigation or criminal investigation from other states.

As we continue to work to make healthcare more accessible and affordable, Dawn has been working to prevent medical debt from negatively impacting individuals' credit scores because no one should be punished for seeking the care they need regardless of their financial situation.

As Rhode Island and the country face a shortage of nurses, physicians, and mental health care professionals, Dawn is proud of the state's participation in multi-state compacts that allow for licensure agreements. This ensures that individuals can access the care they need and continue receiving care if they or their provider relocate to another participating state.

Military Families

Newport and Jamestown are proud to be home to many of our dedicated military members and their families who are stationed here at the war college. The passage of the multi-state licensure compacts will provide invaluable support to these military families, who often face the challenge of relocating due to different assignments. 

As a member of the Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs, Dawn has been a strong advocate for reducing the tax burden on military pensions and ensuring that veterans receive their benefits without unnecessary fees and is a strong supporter of the VFW’s “Don’t Feed the Sharks” campaign. She also has been coordinating with the Department of Defense on legislation that would allow state courts to have jurisdiction over cases involving children who are alleged to have committed crimes on military installations in Rhode Island, with the approval of the United States Attorney or the appropriate Federal Court. This aims to keep the juvenile out of the federal system and give access to age and offense appropriate diversionary programs and sentencing.

Education 

Dawn firmly believes that a quality public education is the foundation for a successful life. Since her election to the Senate, she has been a fierce advocate for securing funding for school construction. She knows that it is essential that our children have access to schools that are not only warm, safe, and dry, but are also equipped with modern amenities to prepare them for the challenges and realities of the 21st century. Thanks to the passage of legislation placing the question of funding on the ballot which was overwhelmingly supported by the voters of our state, Newport is now witnessing significant improvements in our schools, with Rogers High School being rebuilt.

In the most recent legislative session, Dawn helped to successfully fight for the restoration of education funding that had been slashed in the governor's budget which would have been detrimental to our public schools.

Dawn has been a vocal proponent for including a teacher as a voting member on the Department of Education board, and has supported legislation that would appoint the Rhode Island Teacher of the Year to the board. She proudly supported a law that streamlines the process for families with children who have individualized education plans (IEP), promoting greater parental engagement and involvement.

Dawn has consistently stood up for public schools, teachers, and students. She remains steadfast in her opposition to the expansion of charter schools and any redirection of state funds towards them. 

Public Safety

Dawn has been a member of the Senate Committee on Judiciary since 2018, where she currently serves as chair. This committee is responsible for reviewing some of the most crucial and often contentious bills brought before the general assembly. As both a member and leader of the judiciary committee, Dawn takes great pride in her role in passing some of the most impactful gun safety laws in Rhode Island's history. Key pieces of legislation include the banning of high-capacity magazines, prohibiting guns on school grounds, raising the minimum age to purchase any firearm to 21, and enacting the strongest safe storage of firearms law in the country. She remains steadfast in her commitment to working towards banning assault weapons in Rhode Island.

Dawn firmly believes that all communities deserve to feel safe and respected, regardless of their racial or socioeconomic backgrounds. She recognizes the importance of fostering a relationship between communities and law enforcement that is built on mutual respect and understanding. After years of deliberation, Dawn played a key role in advancing reforms to the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights (LEOBOR) this year. It is imperative that we hold our public safety officers to the highest standards of professionalism while ensuring a fair and transparent process for disciplinary actions and appeals. By doing so, we can uphold the safety of our citizens and communities while promoting accountability within law enforcement.

Elections

Dawn is the Senate's leader for election law, advocating for voting rights, voter access, and democracy. She shepherded the Let RI Vote Act to passage in 2022, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that updated RI election laws. This was the most comprehensive election bill to pass in decades, making significant improvements to voter access by enshrining early voting, streamlining mail ballot procedures, and enhancing accessibility for individuals with different abilities.

A staunch supporter of campaign finance transparency, Dawn ensured that transparency remained intact even as changes were made to campaign finance laws. She championed laws that granted independent voters the freedom to participate in the primary of their choice without having to align with a specific party, allowing them to maintain their unaffiliated status. Additionally, she worked to establish a process to address suspected signature fraud on candidate nomination papers.

Dawn is committed to modernizing our electoral system while simultaneously expanding voter access and system integrity.

For DEMOCRACY

 “It is incumbent on all of us to take responsibility for our actions and words. We must seek opportunities to step out of our social circles and truly listen to individuals from other parts of the political spectrum. When you hear only the messages of like-minded people, you lose valuable perspective.”

For The Environment

"I am committed to implementing the landmark Act on Climate, with a vision of protecting and conserving our fragile environment and planning for a future that is resilient against the rising tide and changing weather patterns."

For Housing

“Short-term rentals have become a thriving industry, which has created new challenges in public safety, housing availability, and equity issues pertaining to the hospitality industry. Creating a state-wide registry to track where these businesses are operating enhances safety and compliance with existing laws.”

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