Euer said the impetus for the legislation came after hearing from constituents that their experience securing the right to operate a food truck in other states had been much smoother than in Rhode Island.

“When I talked to business owners about their experience, I heard horror stories about the amount of money that people have to pay in annual compliance [in Rhode Island],” she said.

“The state process was so convoluted and confusing that they felt it really needed to be fixed and streamlined. When I got elected, I talked to the Department of Business Regulation, and the director said, ‘Oh my goodness we have been working on this.’”

A bill sponsored by Jamestown’s state senator would require coordination between two state agencies in order to update businesses on construction projects. The bill was passed by the legislature last week and now awaits Gov. Gina Raimondo’s signature.

Sen. Dawn Euer, a Democrat who represents Jamestown and Newport, introduced the measure in response to the Broadway project in Newport. That $5.8 million construction job caused restricted parking while temporarily turning a busy road into a one-way street.

“While we need better roads, we shouldn’t harm small businesses in the process,” she said.

At a Special meeting of the Newport Democratic City Committee on June 19, 2018, the following Democratic Candidates for public office were endorsed:

• U. S. Senate                                                            Sheldon Whitehouse

• U.S. Congress                                                         David N. Cicilline

• Governor                                                                Gina Raimondo

• Lt. Governor                                                           Aaron Regunberg

• Secretary of State                                                 Nellie Gorbea

• General Treasurer                                                 Seth Magaziner

• Attorney General                                                  Peter Neronha

• State Senate, District 12                                       Louis Di Palma

• State Senate, District 13                                       Dawn Euer

• State Representative, District 73                        Marvin Abney

• State Representative, District 75                        Lauren Carson

A state law to limit foreclosures for struggling homeowners has cleared a hurdle.

The Senate passed a bill to remove the sunset provision from the so-called Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Act, which was scheduled to take effect in July. If passed by the House and signed by the governor, the provision would be extended through fiscal year 2022-23.

The measure was sponsored by Jamestown’s state senator, Dawn Euer, and unanimously endorsed by the town councilors during their March 19 meeting. Rep. Deb Ruggiero, Jamestown’s delegate in the House, also supports the measure. The bill currently is being considered by the House Finance Committee, of which Ruggiero is a member.

School shootings across the nation has led the Rhode Island Senate to pass legislation aimed at gun control, including a so-called red flag law that allows courts to disarm people who are considered a threat.

Sen. Dawn Euer, who represents Jamestown and Newport, co-sponsored the bill.

“I understand the need to change hearts and minds on important issues, but how many hearts are going to stop beating before we take meaningful action?” the Democrat said.

Legislation prohibiting rapid-fire modifications for semi-automatic weapons also was passed. These bills now head to the House. Rep. Deb Ruggiero, who represents Jamestown in the lower chamber, supports these measures.

The bill allows police to seek an “extreme risk protective order” from Superior Court that prohibits people from possessing firearms based on warning signs of violence. Ed Mello, Jamestown’s police chief, spearheaded the effort. He said the law already exists in principal, referring to a measure passed in October that disarms domestic abusers.

The Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture heard testimony Wednesday evening on the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), Senate Bill 2747, introduced by Senator Dawn Euer(Democrat, District 13, Newport, Jamestown).

The bill, said Euer, “is ambitious, but it’s also, I think, the next logical step for the General Assembly to take towards trying to reduce overall carbon emissions and address the causes of climate change.”

“I saw a different resolution for the Blackstone Valley community and my first question was, ‘Why isn’t Newport included?’” State Sen. Dawn Euer said. “We would want to invest in our community as well, so we're figuring out how Newport won’t get left behind when the state is making its investments.”

Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), House Finance Committee Chairman Marvin L. Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown) and Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) will join Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-Dist. 1, R.I.) Saturday on a tour of retail businesses in Newport.

The tour, arranged by the Newport County Chamber of Commerce, will begin Saturday, May 5, at 12:15 pm on Bannister’s Wharf, where the legislators will visit the Newport Mansions Store at 1 America’s Cup Ave. They will move to Bowen’s Wharf at12:30 p.m. where they will visit Anchor Toffee, Soap & Water, Sail Loft, Diego’s and Wharf Pub.

“I have been honored to serve the residents of Jamestown, Newport, and Rhode Island for the past eight months,” said Euer, who was sworn into office in August. “Working with every day Rhode Islanders to help resolve problems at the state level is the best part of this job. I know that when we work together we can make lasting and impactful change.”