STATE HOUSE — The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer to ensure contraception remains covered by insurers in Rhode Island, even if the coverage requirements in the Affordable Care Act are overturned.
“An extreme Supreme Court and a lawless president have shown us that few of our freedoms are as secure as they may have seemed only a few years ago,” said Senator Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown). “The Supreme Court is expected to rule on a challenge to contraception coverage soon, so the time to ensure that Rhode Islanders continue to have access to the contraceptive care they need is now, not next year when that coverage may be gone.”
Senator Euer’s bill (2025-S 0268A) would require health insurers to continue to offer no-cost contraceptives, regardless of what happens on the federal level. Insurers would be required to cover all Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive drugs or, when safe and appropriate, their generic equivalents. Coverage for devices and other products, voluntary sterilization procedures, patient education and counseling on contraception and follow-up services would also be required. Patients could not be charged a deductible or copay for any of these services, with an exception for patients with qualifying high-deductible insurance plans. The bill would also require Medicaid to cover a 12-month supply of contraceptives.
The bill now goes to the House, where Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket, Central Falls) has introduced companion legislation (2025-H 6047).
“We are grateful to Senator Euer for sponsoring this bill, recognizing that access to affordable contraception is not just a health issue — it’s an economic and equity issue. No one should have to choose between paying for groceries and paying for birth control. S268A ensures that reproductive autonomy and economic dignity go hand in hand for all Rhode Islanders,” said Kelly Nevins, CEO of the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island.
Prior to 2010, over 1 in 5 women paid out-of-pocket costs for contraceptives, often comprising an estimated 30 to 44 percent of their total health care spending, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. That year, former President Obama signed the ACA, often called Obamacare, into law. The ACA requires health insurers to provide many preventative services, including contraceptives, at no cost to patients. Since then, most Americans have been able to access free contraception, though some religious employers are exempt from providing their employees this coverage.
According to a report from the federal Office of Health Policy, access to no-cost contraceptives improves a variety of women’s health and economic outcomes, including increased wages, reduced rates of entry into poverty and increased rates of entry into professional school or the labor force.
But the ACA has faced over 2,000 legal challenges over the past 14 years. The U.S. Supreme Court weakened the contraceptive coverage requirements of the law twice, in 2014’s Burwell v. Hobby Lobby and in 2020’s Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania.
Another case, Braidwood Management Inc. v. Becerra, is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled that some of the ACA’s preventative coverage requirements were unconstitutional. Among other things, the judge struck down coverage requirements for HIV prevention medications as a violation of religious freedom. The judge left the ACA’s contraceptive coverage requirements intact, but Supreme Court, which has moved in a more conservative direction since 2020, is expected to rule on the case this month.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
Sakonnet Bridge Renamed as ‘Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts Sakonnet Bridge’
I signed on to legislation in March that would rename the Sakonnet Bridge as the “Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts Sakonnet Bridge.” This legislation passed in the Senate and in the House, and the bridge was renamed on June 11, 2025.
Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts was 38 years old when he gave his life in service in Iraq in 2004.
“Staff Sergeant Potts was a true American hero and his young life was tragically cut short at the age of 38 while he defended freedom and democracy abroad. Renaming the Sakonnet Bridge in his honor will serve as a fitting reminder of what our service members sacrifice in order to protect the ideals and freedoms that we deeply cherish. Staff Sergeant Potts was a beloved member of the community and I hope this recognition will make his family members proud of the valiant and dedicated life that he lived,” said Senator Felag (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton).
You can read more on the Senate's website.
RI Energy Audit
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) recently announced they are directing an audit of Rhode Island Energy’s billing systems. The billing system is one of the final pieces to fully transfer over to RI Energy (PPL) from National Grid after the sale. That transfer has been far from smooth. The billing issue is a consumer protection issue. Especially at a time when people are struggling to keep up with their bills it’s critical that those bills are correct. Additionally, that same billing data is used to do system planning and overall rate setting. I appreciate the PUC taking this on to ensure that these problems that have been identified are corrected.
The review will report directly to the PUC and be supervised by the Commission. This process will evaluate all aspects of the billing system and processes, including Rhode Island Energy’s billing of residential and small commercial customers. The review will take a few months. I plan on following the process closely and will provide updates as I have them. You can read the full announcement and follow along the docket filings here.
Children’s Cardiac Safety Act
I introduced legislation to catch undiagnosed heart conditions in children by ensuring that screening questions about family cardiac history and cardiac symptoms are incorporated in all annual physicals and sports physicals for children 19 and under. It would also institute a professional development module for health care practitioners who perform these screening to increase their effectiveness. The Department of Health would keep a record of these exams and the number of resulting referrals to a cardiologist in order to analyze the effectiveness of the program and recommend potential changes.
In many cases, children with heart issues have no symptoms and their conditions are not discovered until they become much more serious and potentially deadly. This bill is a first step to improve awareness and detection of juvenile heart disease in Rhode Island. I want to thank Matt Grant for bringing this issue to me and for working diligently on the legislation with stakeholders.
Nursing Home Financial Transparency Act
I have introduced legislation to increase the financial transparency of nursing homes and their business partners and ensure that public funds are used efficiently to improve patient care and staff conditions.
This bill is about the stability of our nursing homes. In order to sustain our nursing facilities and improve patient care, reimbursement rates need to increase. I agree, but also as we increase rates we need to ensure that those funds are actually going to be staying in those facilities to improve quality of care and that they are not funneled to related entities for the benefit of shareholders and related business interests.
"State allowing roadkill to be salvaged with permit"
From The Jamestown Press
April 17, 2025
When it comes to roadkill in Jamestown, it is finders, keepers, with a permit.
Legislation signed into law by Gov. Dan McKee in 2024 has led to a policy that allows the public to salvage 12 species killed in vehicle collisions. Jamestown’s delegation, Sen. Dawn Euer and Rep. Alex Finkelman, supported the bill.
The aim of the new regulation, administered by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, is to ease the burden of its staff by responding to fewer calls.
A permit is required within 24 hours of collecting wildlife struck by vehicles. The species, sex, estimated age, photo and location must be reported to receive a permit. Eligible species are white-tailed deer, turkeys, beavers, coyotes, fishers, foxes, muskrats, pheasants, squirrels, rabbits, swans and raccoons.
The public, before salvaging roadkill, should prioritize traffic laws. The animal may be field dressed before it’s removed, but parts cannot be left behind, which is illegal due to attracting other wildlife. Each individual animal requires its own unique permit.
The legislation expands reporting requirements to ensure all collisions involving wildlife are reported, not just deer. Reporting helps to track populations and improve highway safety. Roadkill may not be marked with hunting tags. While authorities can euthanize injured animals, injured animals cannot be killed by the public for salvage.
There were 1,347 reports of collisions with deer in 2024. The average cost of damages per collision, according to the Federal Highway Administration, is $6,717
"Sen. Euer bill would help Rhode Islanders pass on their homes without probate"
STATE HOUSE — While Rhode Islanders can avoid the costly and complex process of probate when they pass along financial assets like pension plans and life insurance policies to a named beneficiary, these mechanisms do not exist for Rhode Islanders looking to leave their home to a loved one after their death. Legislation sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer would give Rhode Islanders this option.
“Every year I hear from constituents who want to pass along the family home without the time, headache and costly legal fees associated with probate or a trust,” said Senator Euer (D-District 13, Newport, Jamestown). “This bill is not for complex or large estates that require a more sophisticated estate planning approach or the expertise of probate court, but rather for working-class Rhode Islanders who simply want to pass their home to their heirs when they pass. This bill gives them a simple, convenient option that is currently unavailable under Rhode Island law.”
Senator Euer’s bill, the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act (2025-S 0141), would allow owners of real property, such as a home, to use a document called a transfer on death deed to name a beneficiary who will obtain the title upon the owner’s death without the necessity of probate.
Currently 33 states, the District of Columbia and the United States Virgin Islands permit property owners to avoid probate when transferring property with transfer on death deeds or similar deeds such as enhanced life estate or “Lady Bird” deeds.
The act has national support from the American Bar Association’s Real Property Trust and Estate Section, the ABA Commission on Law and Aging, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and AARP.
Media Literacy Bill
This session I introduced a bill that would incorporate 'media literacy' in K-12 curriculum. The bill (S638) would add media literacy to the existing civics education law. At its core, this legislation is about developing critical thinking skills. I was compelled to introduce this bill after seeing a short overview of the program in Finland.
I believe there has never been a more important time for our citizens to understand the role of media and be critical consumers of information. Previous generations would sit together and watch the evening news, getting the same information, delivered in the same way, at the same time. Our current state is such a drastic departure where people get their information from social media and are fed stories via whatever algorithm has put on their timeline. With so much misinformation and disinformation circulating constantly, it is so key that we consider the sources we are reading and ask questions about their accuracy. We all need to be thoughtful about our media consumption.
Check out this recent article from The Providence Journal about the bill and the perfect example of why it is so important right now, here in Rhode Island: "RI bill would make media literacy a required topic in schools. Why lawmakers say it's needed."
Mid-Session Update
March marks the midpoint of the legislative session. Most legislation has been introduced and committee hearings are taking place two or three days a week in the Senate.
Last month, the Senate held a budget workshop for its members led by Chairman Lou DiPalma. At that meeting, I raised the concern that we should be doing a threat assessment and mitigation plan for programs and Departments that receive federal funding. More than a third of the state budget comes from federal funding and so losing federal funds would be incredibly detrimental to our state. Well, earlier this week, the Department of Health disclosed that the CDC canceled $31 million in grants that would fund programs such as childhood vaccinations, laboratory capacity and epidemiology to prevent future pandemics. These cuts make us all less safe and are the direct result of the chaos in DC. I anticipate a special session will likely need to take place in the fall as the economic picture continues to change rapidly. I will keep you updated on the budget along with other items in future newsletters.
I encourage you to follow and participate in the work of the Senate — whether that means testifying on legislation or just following along on Capitol TV. You can track my bills (and all Senate and House bills) on the General Assembly's website.
Please reach out to me with any questions and concerns at sen-euer@rilegislature.gov.