MD

Matthew Dawson

State Representative · Rhode Island House District 65

Bills introduced (25)

RIH7654Passed

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

Yes 53No 1Other 21
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RIH7923Passed

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

Yes 65No 0Other 10
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RIH8094Passed

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

Yes 70No 0Other 5
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RIH7649Passed

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

Yes 8No 0Other 2
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RIH7608Passed

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

Yes 7No 0Other 2
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RIH7562Passed

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

Yes 9No 0Other 1
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RIH8438Introduced

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.

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RIH8103Engrossed

Increases 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

Yes 68No 0Other 7
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RIH8314Introduced

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 & Votes
RIH8404Introduced

Establishes 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 & Votes
RIH8432Introduced

Makes 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.

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RIH7583Introduced

Increases 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 & Votes

Showing the 12 most recently active.

Recent votes

BillVote onVote
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