Matthew Dawson
State Representative · Rhode Island House District 65
Bills introduced (25)
Allows for sending of the notice under power of sale and rights of active military servicemembers by USPS First Class Mail and/or an overnight delivery service, instead of by USPS certified mail return receipt requested.
Signed by Governor · June 24, 2026
Revises sections of the uniform controlled substances act to remove specific opioid dosage requirements and revises the uniform controlled substances act in accordance with current standards of professional practice.
Signed by Governor · June 23, 2026
Restores law enforcement discretion, allowing officers to issue a verbal warning when appropriate or pursue misdemeanor or felony charges in more egregious cases where a child is left unattended in a motor vehicle.
Signed by Governor · June 23, 2026
Requires that all monies received from the payment of fines under the Uniform Act on Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking be deposited into the into the violent crimes indemnity account within the general fund.
Signed by Governor · June 18, 2026
Provides that no train or light engine would be used in connection with the movement of freight could be operated unless it had a crew consisting of at least 2 persons, would also include the imposition of fines upon a company for violation of the act.
Signed by Governor · June 18, 2026
Allows animal control officers in the cities and towns to lawfully take charge of and provide adequate care to any animal found abandoned or neglected or hazardously accumulated and includes them as agents authorized to enforce the provisions of this law.
Signed by Governor · June 10, 2026
Allows a modification to federal adjusted gross income for personal income tax for qualified tips and overtime income consistent with the federal tax treatment.
Committee recommended measure be held for further study · May 7, 2026
No recorded vote yet.
See Bill & VotesIncreases the time that mortgage foreclosure notices are required to be provided to active military service members, from nine (9) months to one year, after completion of their active duty.
Referred to Senate Judiciary · May 5, 2026
Raises the per diem rate by thirteen percent (13%) for Medicaid reimbursement for Tier C services provide by assisted living residence beginning January 1, 2027.
Committee recommended measure be held for further study · May 5, 2026
No recorded vote yet.
See Bill & VotesEstablishes a fund to support children’s community-based providers’ infrastructure changes necessary and related to the state’s Medicaid transformation initiative.
Committee recommended measure be held for further study · May 5, 2026
No recorded vote yet.
See Bill & VotesMakes assault on a railroad worker resulting in personal injury a felony.
Committee recommended measure be held for further study · April 30, 2026
No recorded vote yet.
See Bill & VotesIncreases fees paid to jurors to fifty dollars ($50.00) per day.
Committee recommended measure be held for further study · April 29, 2026
No recorded vote yet.
See Bill & VotesShowing the 12 most recently active.
Recent votes
| Bill | Vote on | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| H8080 Provides that a defendant's third and subsequent violation of domestic violence offenses, including both prior felony and misdemeanor convictions, would be punishable as a felony. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage April 2, 2026 | Yes |
| H8025 Allows the town of Tiverton to authorize, by ordinance, a real estate tax credit for seniors over the age of sixty-five (65) years. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage June 3, 2026 | Absent |
| H8437 Changes tax exemptions to tax credits in the city of Cranston. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage June 5, 2026 | Yes |
| H8622 AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION, REPAIR AND ALTERATION OF PLAYGROUNDS, ATHLETIC FIELDS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT IN THE CITY BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $4,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage June 10, 2026 | Yes |
| H8058 Makes it unnecessary to prove that a person's transmission of electronic communications be for the sole purpose of harassment before being found guilty of cyberstalking or cyberharassment. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage May 26, 2026 | Yes |
| H8046 Establishes a set service rate of seventy dollars ($70.00) for the service of all writs, citations or subpoenas. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage May 26, 2026 | Yes |
| H8558 Grants the city of Warwick the authority to sell the property located at 34 Warwick Lake Avenue, without regard for statutory limitations pursuant to § 45-2-6, to clear the title to said property. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage of Sub A May 26, 2026 | Absent |
| H8620 AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE REPAIR, CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF STORM DRAINS AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE REMEDIATION AND MITIGATION OF DRAINAGE AND FLOODING PROBLEMS, BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $4,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage June 10, 2026 | Yes |
| H7757 Gives statewide juvenile hearing boards the authority to refer a juvenile offender to a rehabilitative driving course, as part of a disposition of an offense before the board. The order may be enforced by the traffic tribunal. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage May 26, 2026 | Yes |
| H7572 Adds early voting to the 50 feet buffer prohibitions against politicking during election day voting. | House · House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage April 16, 2026 | Yes |
| H8525 Authorizes the town of Coventry to apportion the tax levy proportionately between residential and commercial properties. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage May 26, 2026 | Absent |
| H7437 Extends the sunsetting of the "Don't Block the Box" automated traffic detection systems from January 15, 2027, to January 15, 2030. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage May 14, 2026 | Yes |
| H8435 Allows for the issuance of a Class B license for the property located at 102 Granite Street, in the town of Westerly. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage May 26, 2026 | Absent |
| H8621 AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, DEMOLITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION, REPAIR, ALTERATION, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN THE CITY BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $2,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage June 10, 2026 | Yes |
| H8623 AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND BRIDGES IN THE CITY INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PAVING, DRAINAGE, TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES, ROAD MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT, SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AND LANDSCAPING AND ALL COSTS INCIDENTAL OR RELATED THERETO BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $8,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage June 10, 2026 | Yes |
| H8484 Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Amos House, provided it remains a qualified tax-exempt corporation pursuant to § 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage June 3, 2026 | Absent |
| H8029 Adds the town of Tiverton to those towns specifically named to tax any person for either a mobile or manufactured home and automatically lien the a mobile or manufactured home. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage June 8, 2026 | Absent |
| H8580 Amends the act which incorporated the North Tiverton fire district and reduces the number of tax assessors, subsequent to any voluntary resignations, from six (6) to four (4) after the annual 2026 meeting. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage June 8, 2026 | Absent |
| H7579 JOINT RESOLUTION REPEALING RHODE ISLAND'S RATIFICATION OF THE CORWIN AMENDMENT (Repeals the General Assembly’s previous ratification of the Corwin Amendment.) | House · House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage May 28, 2026 | Yes |
| H7496 Adds a representative of an aging adult organization and a member of a statewide disability advocacy organization who is sixty (60) years of age or older to the state planning council. | House · House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage of Sub A March 19, 2026 | Yes |
| H8624 AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION AND REPAIR OF FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $8,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage June 10, 2026 | Yes |
| H8086 Provides that the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault shall be 10 years from the date of the offense, or, in the case of a victim who is under the age of 18, ten years from the victim’s eighteenth birthday, whichever is later. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage of Sub A April 2, 2026 | Yes |
| H8508 Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center, located in the city of Providence. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage June 3, 2026 | Absent |
| H8087 Dictates the length a search warrant involving a tracking device would be valid and provide a process to extend the time frame of the tracking device for good cause. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage April 16, 2026 | Yes |
| S2041 Authorizes the town council of Little Compton to establish a homestead exemption for residential dwellings. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage in concurrence March 24, 2026 | Yes |
| H8464 Requires any contractor performing construction or maintenance for RIDOT, RITBA or any other construction on any state roads have in place an attenuator truck/crash truck with an operational camera. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage of Sub A June 5, 2026 | Yes |
| S2328 Names the new coveside dog park, located at Haines Memorial State Park in Barrington "The Christine Conrad Lane Memorial Dog Park." | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage in concurrence March 17, 2026 | Absent |
| H7634 Provides that advanced practice registered nurses have the same immunity from liability as physicians and surgeons. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage March 18, 2026 | Yes |
| H7122 Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Community MusicWorks located in the city of Providence. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage of Sub A June 3, 2026 | Absent |
| S2576 Allows the town of Tiverton to apply different tax rates to all classes of property. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage in concurrence June 3, 2026 | Absent |
| H7576 Makes traffic accident data a public record, subject to federal law. | House · House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage May 28, 2026 | Yes |
| H7371 Sets the zoning statewide for “family child care homes” to no fewer than twelve (12) children maximum. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage April 15, 2026 | Yes |
| H8040 Prohibits any city or town from enacting any zoning ordinance that would place restrictions on residential NARR-certified recovery residences that are not applicable to other residential homes. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage of Sub A June 3, 2026 | Absent |
| H7298 Allows the town of Tiverton to apply different tax rates to all classes of property. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage May 26, 2026 | Absent |
| S3262 Amends the current statute governing exemptions from property taxes for elderly and the disabled in the town of Glocester. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage in concurrence June 3, 2026 | Absent |
| H7976 Renames the University of Rhode Island football practice field, located at 5E West Alumni Avenue, Kingston, RI 02881, to the "Mark S. Cruise '81 '84 Football Practice Field." | House · House Committee on Special Legislation: Passage June 8, 2026 | Absent |
| H8546 REGARDING MOTIONS AT THE TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage of Sub A June 8, 2026 | Absent |
| H7763 Repeals certain provisions of the law regarding maintenance of private easements and rights of way. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage of Sub A June 3, 2026 | Yes |
| H8091 Aligns the implementation date of youth camp licensing within the operational, and statutory framework of the Rhode Island department of human services and department of children, youth and families. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage May 14, 2026 | Yes |
| H7491 AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $25,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES TO FUND THE PROVIDENCE HOUSING TRUST FUND TO FINANCE AFFORDABLE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING PROJECTS IN THE CITY | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage May 7, 2026 | Yes |
| S2073 Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Community MusicWorks located in the city of Providence. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage of Sub A as amended in concurrence June 3, 2026 | Absent |
| S2750 Renames the University of Rhode Island football practice field, located at 5E West Alumni Avenue, Kingston, RI 02881, to the "Mark S. Cruise '81 '84 Football Practice Field." | House · House Committee on Special Legislation: Passage in concurrence June 8, 2026 | Absent |
| S2037 Authorizes the town of Barrington to provide a tax dollar credit reduction for legally blind persons by ordinance. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage in concurrence March 24, 2026 | Yes |
| H8348 Exempts from taxation the property of the nonprofit Mount St. Rita Health Centre located in Cumberland, RI. The exemption would be effective as of December 31, 2025. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage of Sub A April 15, 2026 | Yes |
| S3185 Exempts property that consists of the lake bed and Wilson’s Reservoir in the town of Burrillville from taxes. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage of Sub A June 8, 2026 | Absent |
| S3185 Exempts property that consists of the lake bed and Wilson’s Reservoir in the town of Burrillville from taxes. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage of Sub A June 8, 2026 | Absent |
| H7638 Amends the general law relative to right-of-way of pedestrians to reference the schedule of violations for the adjudication of traffic offenses contained in § 31.41.1-4. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage May 26, 2026 | Yes |
| H7378 Changes how voter are notified of elections and vote registration deadlines, and local board questions. | House · House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage March 31, 2026 | Yes |
| H7643 Simplifies the assessment of filing fees required to appeal from small claims and consumer matters adjudicated by the district court. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage April 9, 2026 | Yes |
| S2123 Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center located in the city of Pawtucket. Effective retroactively to December 31, 2025 and affects next levy issued by the city or town where property is located. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage of Sub B June 8, 2026 | Absent |
| H7154 Amends the definition of public record to exempt from public disclosure the city or town of residence of the justices, judges, and magistrates of the unified judicial system. | House · House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage April 30, 2026 | Absent |
| H8050 Provides immunity for mediators and staff employed by the family court in the family court mediation program from financial liability for certain claims arising out of their participation in the program. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage April 9, 2026 | Yes |
| H8092 Adds staff of day camps and residential camps for youth to the definition of "person responsible for a child's welfare" within the chapter on abused and neglected children. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage May 26, 2026 | Yes |
| H8436 Amends the current statute governing exemptions from property taxes for elderly and the disabled in the town of Glocester. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage June 3, 2026 | Absent |
| H8064 Provides that violations of § 11-37.1-10 relating to failing to register as a sex offender are subject to the duration and frequency of registrations pursuant to § 11-37.1-4. | House · House Committee on Judiciary: Passage April 2, 2026 | Yes |
| H7008 Includes the governor's commission on disabilities in the decision making process for the disability parking enforcement enhancement program and requires an annual report be submitted to the governor's commission. | House · House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage of Sub A March 31, 2026 | Yes |
| H8000 Provides certain procedures that must be followed before an encampment can be removed or relocated. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage of Sub A April 29, 2026 | Yes |
| S3155 Exempts from taxation the property of the nonprofit Mount St. Rita Health Centre located in Cumberland, RI. The exemption would be effective as of December 31, 2025. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage of Sub A April 15, 2026 | Yes |
| H8028 Exempts property that consists of the lake bed and Wilson’s Reservoir in the town of Burrillville from taxes. | House · House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing: Passage of Sub A June 8, 2026 | Absent |
| H7050 Updates disability parking space signage and enables municipalities to participate in the parking mobility app program where individuals submit photos on the app of vehicles parked in spaces designated for individuals with disabilities. | House · House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage March 19, 2026 | Yes |