I’m Running for Re-Election in Newport

I’m excited to officially announce that I’m running for re-election in 2026 to continue representing Newport in House District 75!

Since first taking office in 2014, my focus has always been simple: Put Newport First. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and I’m grateful for the trust and support this community has shown me over the years as I prepare to seek my seventh term.

Over the years, I’ve worked closely with local leaders, organizations, and residents to deliver real results for Newport. Some of the recent work I’m especially proud of includes:

• Securing funding for Cliff Walk repairs.
• Supporting local organizations through legislative grants, including Rogers High School PTO, Thompson Middle School, Bike Newport, Newport VFW, Edward King House, and Newport Gulls
• Protecting Newport’s interests through harbor management and local revenue initiatives
• Passing legislation supporting environmental sustainability, recycling, and composting programs in schools
• Working with the Newport Tree and Open Space Commission on neighborhood improvements and fair tree protections
• Advocating to keep essential healthcare services, including the Noreen Drexel Birthing Center, available on Aquidneck Island

Looking ahead, I remain committed to the same priorities I’ve always had: being accessible, responsive, and focused on the issues that matter most to Newport residents.

There’s still important work ahead — from protecting our environment and strengthening our local economy to supporting seniors and preserving the character of our city — and I’m ready to keep fighting for Newport at the State House.

Thank you again for your support, your ideas, and your encouragement over the years. I’m honored to serve this community and look forward to continuing this work together.

Enjoy the summer, and I hope to see you around town soon.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Warmly,
Lauren Carson

laurenhcarson@gmail.com

401-523-1143

Carson submits bill tying funding for birthing center to full operation, transparency and community input

STATE HOUSE – In response to Brown University Health’s assertion that it needs $4.9 million to keep Newport Hospital’s Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center open, today Rep. Lauren H. Carson introduced legislation to establish a fund for that purpose, with numerous restrictions aimed at ensuring the center remains fully operational and that it operates with transparency and community input.

“If Brown Health needs $4.9 million to keep the birthing center open, this fund is a way to provide that money. But if we’re committing any state funding, it has to come with strings attached. It’s not a blank check,” said Representative Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), who has been a leader in the community in the effort to keep the birthing center open. “Above all else, it must be contingent on keeping the birthing center open and fully staffed without any reduction in services. Second, there must be public accountability, transparency and inclusion of the community in oversight of the birthing center, particularly with respect to planning and strengthening it for its future. That’s what we’ve been asking for ever since it was announced that Brown Health was considering closing the birthing center, and if public money is being used, it’s a requirement.”

The legislation would establish the Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund, to be administered by the Newport Hospital Foundation exclusively to support birthing services at Newport Hospital.

Under the bill, one third of the $4.9 million funding for fiscal year 2027 — $1.63 million — would come from the state’s general fund, one third would have to come from Brown University Health, and the final third would need to be raised through philanthropy.

The legislation establishes numerous conditions that must be met by Brown Health as a condition of receiving the funds, including several related to maintaining the current levels of staffing and services, some establishing reporting requirements about how the fund is used, and some requiring that Brown University Health engage in meaningful community oversight and planning.

The bill requires specifically stipulates that Brown Health create a “whole community council” with representation from stakeholders including elected officials, the Newport Hospital Foundation and representatives of community-based organizations. That council is to meet at least quarterly to review findings on outcomes, quality, safety and financial data of the birthing unit and to plan for its future.
As the bill states, “This ensures decisions are broadly supported, collaborative, and positions the community both for input and to help with any required fundraising or advocacy to insure the sustainability of the Birthing Center. The Birthing Center is an owned entity of Brown University Health, but it is also community resource and should be treated that way.”

The bill also requires that within a year, in conjunction with the community, Brown Health develop a sustainability plan for the birthing center to build a state-of-the-art women’s and maternal healthcare facility.

“What I’m aiming for with this bill is that we ensure that we aren’t here again in a year trying to close some funding gap that we don’t even have any information about. We need transparency, genuine inclusion of our community and a strategy for the birthing center’s future that ensures its development into a truly spectacular facility,” said Representative Carson.

House OKs Carson bill to strengthen food waste diversion in school cafeterias

STATE HOUSE – The House of Representatives today approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Lauren H. Carson to put some teeth into a law that is meant to reduce school cafeteria waste in the state’s landfill.

The bill (2026-H 7342) requires all school food service contracts to include provisions mandating the composting or recycling of organic waste, and requires the public disclosure of schools’ waste audits that detail its efforts to reduce waste, recycle and divert usable food to the community instead of the landfill. The bill also provides a framework for “share tables,” already used in many school cafeterias, where students put unopened food they don’t want so others may eat it, instead of in the trash.

Existing law only “encourages” schools to require food vendors to recycle or compost food waste, and while it requires waste audits every three years, the results don’t have to be publicly disclosed.

“With our state’s only landfill on track to reach capacity by 2045, we need to get serious about diverting everything we can from the trash. We’ve been slow-rolling food-waste diversion at schools for years. The schools that do it have shown that they can make a very significant impact. And even more importantly, they are shaping the next generation’s habits around keeping food waste out of the trash,” said Representative Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport).  “Rhode Island has plenty of experience now that shows us schools can institute cafeteria waste sorting and recycling very successfully. Kids are willing, and they’re good at it. For the sake of the earth that they will inherit, waste diversion at schools should be universal now.”

According to the Rhode Island School Recycling Project, 5 million pounds of food is wasted at Rhode Island schools each year. An estimated 776,698 pounds of that food is perfectly usable food that could have gone to some of the one-in-three families in Rhode Island experiencing food insecurity.

The Rhode Island School Recycling Project, which is a joint effort of several agencies and donors, offers a voluntary program that’s currently used in more than 70 schools in the state. Schools in the program have students sort their food waste into separate buckets for recyclables, compostable organics and trash, overseen by volunteer student “food waste rangers.” The compostables are picked up by a commercial composter or composted on site.

Unopened food — like granola bars, bags of chips, cheese sticks, fruit with intact peels, cartons of milk and other drinks — go to the share table or an associated refrigerator, where anyone else can take it. Unused items from the share table are sent home with kids who need it or donated to food pantries.

Since the program began with three schools in 2021, it has diverted an estimated 711.6 tons — the equivalent of five Statues of Liberty — of food waste from the landfill and recovered 80 tons of usable food through share tables.

 Additionally, with the help of curriculum developed by Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, teachers engage students in projects calculating the impact of the program, including collecting the data for the school’s waste audit.

The project’s organizers say they expect it to reach half of Rhode Island’s schools by 2027, and all of them by 2030.

“Requiring food waste diversion in food service contracts is a critical step toward finally implementing this strategy across the state. With the addition of transparency for schools’ waste audits, we’ll get real data about exactly how much of a difference this makes. This is low-hanging fruit in terms of policy changes we can adopt to protect our limited landfill space, and it comes with the additional benefits of redirecting unopened food to people who need it and equipping young Rhode Islanders with better skills and viewpoints when it comes to recycling and preventing waste,” said Representative Carson.

The bill now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Bridget Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, South Kingstown) is sponsoring companion legislation (2026-S 2438). That bill is scheduled for a hearing tomorrow before the Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee.

Representative Carson had a few guests with her in the House today to watch the bill’s House passage: Julie Dorsey, principal of Smithfield’s LaPerche Elementary School, and LaPerche students Nika Pagios, Maxwell Polseno and Jacelyn Bushee, who serve as food waste rangers in their cafeteria. LaPerche was one of the three schools that adopted the Rhode Island School Recycling Project in its inaugural year.

Coalition of supporters rally at State House for Newport birthing center

STATE HOUSE –Rep. Lauren H. Carson welcomed a coalition of supporters of Newport’s Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center to the State House today for a rally in support of the birthing center’s future.

The Coalition for Newport Hospital Birthing Center, Aquidneck Island families, community leaders and health care providers at the event called for stronger support for the island’s only birthing unit, saying it shouldn’t just be saved from closure — it should be equipped to grow and continually provide the latest state-of-the-art maternal care.

“We are heartened by Brown Health’s announcement last week that it would keep the birthing center open, but we want to know that this excellent facility is going to be provided the resources it needs to thrive now and into the future” said Representative Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), who has been a leader in the fight to keep the center open since it was initially targeted for closure by Brown University Health last year. “The Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center has long been an outstanding provider of maternal health services to our community, and we want to make sure it stays at the cutting edge. We are concerned about its funding and about its future when Brown Health’s Massachusetts facilities are running deep in the red. We need a firm commitment to maternal health on Aquidneck Island and throughout our state.”

After considering a plan last summer to shutter the Stonor Drexel Birthing Center — the only birthing center on Aquidneck Island — Brown University Health first announced it would keep it open for another year while considering its future, then on Friday announced that it planned to keep the birthing center open, but wants an additional $4.9 million annually from the state or donors to sustain it.

Supporters at today’s event pushed for a more robust long-term commitment, calling for the passage of  a package of legislation sponsored by Representative Carson to ensure a strong future for the birthing center and maternal health on Aquidneck Island and statewide. Those bills, which are scheduled for hearings before the House Health and Human Services Committee this afternoon, would prohibit the closure or significant reduction of services of a birthing center without notice, application, financial disclosure, a public hearing and Department of Health approval (2026-H 7272); would condition state funding or grants for Brown University Health on the continued operation of the birthing center (2026-H 8203); and enact the Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026 (2026-H 7626) to establish permanent statewide support for maternal health and to implement the maternal health strategic plan improving maternal health care and access.

Today’s event included remarks from Cassie Voll, chair of the Coalition for Newport Hospital Birthing Center and co-founder of Moms over Margins, the community group formed to fight for the continued operation of the birthing center;  Katie Hellendrung, a  Middletown mother who has given birth to five children at the birthing center; and Adriana Chartier, a registered nurse at Women & Infants Hospital and a member of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1199 New England.

At the event, the Coalition for Newport Hospital Birthing Center released its report entitled “Protecting the Future of Maternity Care in Newport County: How the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center is Critical to the Health of the Aquidneck Island and East Bay Communities.” The report found that the birthing center provides vital in-hospital maternity care for women on and around Aquidneck Island, serves a population more than sufficient to sustain it and contributes substantially to Newport County’s economic health.

“While Brown University Health’s announcement that they will keep the Birthing Center open represents an important step forward, questions remain about Brown’s specific plan to ensure the longevity and sustainability of the Birthing Center. We hope that this report serves as the beginning of an open and transparent dialogue with the leadership at Brown University Health and Newport Hospital about not just sustained investment in the Birthing Center, but a robust, long-term strategy that meaningfully incorporates community feedback in decision-making about this vital regional resource,” said Voll.

Supporters at the rally noted that the sustainability of the birthing center, while critical to families on the island who would have to drive some 40 minutes off island to another birthing facility, has an impact on the entire state.

“Women & Infants Hospital already delivers 80% of babies in Rhode Island, and we are in the midst of a critical staffing and retention crisis. Short staffing puts patient safety, staff well-being, and our professional licenses at risk every single day. Even though we are encouraged by the announcement that the Newport Hospital’s Birthing Center will stay open, many questions remain about its future. I am deeply concerned about the impact on local families—and I cannot see how an already overstretched system will safely absorb the increase in births,” said Melissa Blais, a registered nurse labor and delivery at Women & Infants Hospital.

Said Newport City Councilor Xay Khamsyvoravong, “Fixing our health care system starts with ensuring access to high-quality primary and maternal health care. Communities need to be resolute in ensuring the health care system hears that these are foundational priorities.”

Sen. Gu, Rep. Carson bill would modernize identity theft protection laws

STATE HOUSE — Legislation from Sen. Victoria Gu and Lauren H. Carson aims to modernize cybersecurity laws to better protect the personally identifiable information of Rhode Islanders.

“In the wake of the RIBridges cyberattack, it’s important to set clear expectations that state agencies, municipalities and companies should be meeting current best practices of an industry-recognized cybersecurity framework, such as NIST Cybersecurity Framework, to protect the personally identifiable information of Rhode Islanders,” said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) who chairs the Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies. “Our current laws governing the protection of this information need updating to match the reality of our increasingly digital world and its threats.”

The December 2024 breach of RIBridges, Rhode Island’s online portal for social services, affected around 650,000 people in total, releasing Social Security numbers, employment details, financial data and other personal information to the dark web. Senator Gu and Representative Carson saw this as a clear sign that Rhode Island needed to update its cybersecurity standards.

“As our lives become increasingly digital, it is no surprise that identity theft is one of the fastest growing cybercrimes. We are no strangers to large data breaches here in Rhode Island, and many of us were asked to take steps to protect ourselves after the RIBridges attack. But just asking residents to protect themselves is insufficient. Especially as AI and related technologies grow in capability and popularity, we as legislators need to take serious steps to make sure Rhode Islanders are protected. It is time to update our identity theft protections, which have seen minimal changes over the last decade — an eternity considering how technology and our digital lives have changed since 2015,” said Representative Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport).

The bill (2026-S 2638, 2026-H 7509) would amend the Identity Theft Protection Act of 2015 to modernize its requirements and definitions. It would change references to protecting “personal information” in the law to “personally identifiable information,” a more expansive term that includes all information that can be used to reveal a person’s identity.

Entities that handle this information are already required to maintain a risk-based information security program, and the bill clarifies that this program must meet current best practices as outlined in an industry recognized cybersecurity framework, with controls to restrict and manage access to this data.

“It is essential to have clear safeguards that protect the personal information of Rhode Islanders. Many of us manage sensitive financial, medical and digital records, and when those details fall into the wrong hands, it can disrupt not only our finances but our sense of security. Strengthening practices that help keep Rhode Islanders’ information safe gives older adults the confidence to stay engaged, connected and independent in an increasingly digital world,” said AARP RI State Director Catherine Taylor.

The bill would maintain the existing penalties in law for “reckless” or “knowing and willful violations,” but adds an additional tool to allow courts to impose additional sanctions if the circumstances of a violation warrant it.

The bill would also update the reporting requirements of state agencies, municipalities and companies when a breach has occurred to include timely notification to the Rhode Island Division of Enterprise Technology Strategy and Services (ETSS).

ETSS is the Rhode Island agency responsible for oversight, coordination and development of all IT staff and resources within the executive branch of government. It works to standardize the state’s ongoing investments in software, networks and cybersecurity.

Senator Gu and Representative Carson sponsored similar legislation last year. This year’s version incorporates feedback gained from experts and the business community during last year’s committee process.

Cybercrime losses topped $16 billion nationwide in 2024 — a 33% increase from 2023. According to the FBI’s Boston Division, which covers Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, New Englanders reported total losses to cybercrime in 2024 of $446.7 million, with common victims including senior citizens and small businesses.

Senator Gu and Representative Carson point out that by increasing data safety standards, this bill helps to protect both individuals and small businesses from losses from scams, fraud and ransomware.

Rep. Carson: Newport birthing center must not be sacrificed for Brown Health’s Massachusetts financial losses

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Lauren H. Carson says Brown University Health’s first-quarter financial report demands a clear and direct response from lawmakers: Rhode Island taxpayers have been faithful partners to this health system, and that partnership must be honored by preserving essential services for the communities that depend on them — such as the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center in Newport.

On a call to investors last week, Brown Health’s CFO reported that “Massachusetts is still our major challenge” and that its Rhode Island facilities are “consistently profitable.” The system’s $18 million first-quarter loss was driven by St. Anne’s and Morton hospitals — two Massachusetts facilities Brown Health acquired in 2024 — which together reported more than $22 million in operating losses in fiscal year 2025. Brown Health’s Miriam, Bradley and Rhode Island hospitals all finished that same year in the black.

“Brown Health’s losses are all coming from out-of-state, and yet, once again, the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center at Newport Hospital — the only labor and delivery unit on Aquidneck Island — is being held up as a potential casualty. That is unacceptable,” said Representative Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport).

“Rhode Island has invested heavily in Brown Health’s success. The General Assembly increased Medicaid reimbursement rates and added more hospital funding in the fiscal 2026 budget than the governor initially proposed. The state has extended hundreds of millions of dollars in state-directed Medicaid payments to support this system. Rhode Island taxpayers have done their part,” she continued. “What we cannot accept is a system that benefits from Rhode Island’s public support while looking to cut the services Rhode Islanders need most in order to offset the costs of an out-of-state expansion strategy. Brown Health made the decision to purchase St. Anne’s and Morton. Rhode Island families should not be the ones absorbing that risk.

“The Newport birthing center is not an amenity — it is a lifeline. Expecting a pregnant woman on Aquidneck Island to travel off the island for labor and delivery is not a reasonable alternative. It is a threat to maternal health and safety.

“I am calling on Brown University Health to commit, clearly and publicly, to maintaining the Newport Hospital birthing center as a fully operational labor and delivery unit. I am also calling on my colleagues in the General Assembly, and on the governor’s office, to make clear that continued public support for Brown Health — including state-directed Medicaid payments — is contingent on Brown Health fulfilling its obligations to Rhode Island communities.

“The next community advisory panel meeting is scheduled for April 28. Rhode Island’s leaders should not wait until then to make their position known.

“Rhode Island has been a good partner. It is time for Brown University Health to be one too,” Representative Carson concluded.

Commission studying services for older Rhode Islanders to seeking public input on priorities

STATE HOUSE – The House commission studying services and programs for older adults in Rhode Island, led by Rep. Lauren H. Carson, invites the public to a forum to gather input on the multi-sector planning framework on aging it is developing.

The meeting is scheduled Friday, March 6, at 1 p.m. in the House Lounge on the second floor of the State House.

The Commission is seeking feedback on its proposed priority domains and value statements intended to guide future aging-related policy and investment in Rhode Island.

The six priority domains under consideration are:

• Housing

• Transportation

• Economic Security

• Health

• Access to Services

• Municipal Services

 
Members of the public, stakeholders, advocates and service providers are encouraged to review these draft statements and provide comments on whether the priorities are appropriately framed and whether the value statements reflect Rhode Island’s goals for supporting older adults, caregivers and age-friendly communities.

“Our commission welcomes participation and perspectives from all corners of our state as we lay the groundwork for a comprehensive, multi-sector approach to aging in Rhode Island. Our state is about to experience a large wave of residents reaching age 60 and older, and we need to prepare by deploying our resources in the most effective ways possible. What we’re asking now is for people to weigh in on what our priorities should be. We want to know what areas matters most to Rhode Islanders in terms of supporting older people in living life on their terms,” said Chairwoman Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport).

The meeting will be televised on Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox channel 61, on i3Broadband channel 15 and on Verizon channel 34. It will be live streamed at capitoltvri.cablecast.tv.

The Special Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations Pertaining to Services and Coordination of State Programs Relating to Older Adult Rhode Islanders has been meeting for over a year to study the state’s resources and services for older adults and ways to improve them as the population of older Rhode Islanders increases. Currently, more than 240,000 Rhode Islanders are age 60 or older. That number is expected to increase to almost 265,000 by 2040.

Besides Chairwoman Carson, the commission includes Rep. Thomas E. Noret (D-Dist. 25, Coventry, West Warwick), Office of Healthy Aging Director Maria E. Cimini, Nancy Sutton of the Department of Health, AARP Rhode Island State Director Catherine Taylor, Edward King House Executive Director Carmela A. Geer, Warwick Senior Services Director Meg Underwood, Coventry Human Services Director Robert Robillard Jr., Paul Salera of the Rhode Island RI Association of Community Action Agencies, Paula McFarland of the Rhode Island Long Term Care Coordinating Council, James Burke Connell of Age-Friendly RI, Carol Anne Costa of the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island, Robert Marshall of the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council, Corinne Russo of University of Rhode Island,  former AARP RI Director Kathleen Connell and Maureen Maigret, chairwoman of the Aging in Community Subcommittee of the state’s Long Term Care Coordinating Council.

The commission is studying key statistics about services for older adults in Rhode Island, examining strengths, vulnerabilities, and demographic and financial statistics; assess the current state, federal and local services currently available, as well as any duplication of services; recommend ways to coordinate services within agencies and focus on better service delivery, including housing options and various living arrangements, health status and health care resources; provide recommendations for the creation of a portal to coordinate aging services in employment, education, independent living, accessibility and advocacy, as well as local older adult centers and services;  provide recommendations on mental health, transportation, food access, and health care; provide recommendations for the funding of services through state, federal and private grants and for more efficient distribution and use of these dollars; and explore more regionalization of services.

Bill would update references to ‘elderly’ in state law

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Lauren H. Carson has introduced legislation to update state laws to eliminate outdated terms describing older Rhode Islanders.

The legislation would initiate a review of state laws for references to “elders” and “elderly person(s),” to enable the drafting of legislation next year to replace those terms with the phrase “older adults.”

The bill, which also makes changes designed to give older Rhode Islanders a seat at the table in state planning and better empower a panel on long-term care, stems from the work of a commission she chairs to study services provided to older Rhode Islanders.

The commission is identifying ways to improve services and maximize resources available to older Rhode Islanders in the face of an expected surge in that population over the next 15 years. Over the course of the more than two years the commission has been meeting, Representative Carson has noted that, with life expectancy having increased over the decades, people over 60 are not all living lifestyles that could be described as “elderly,” and they certainly don’t appreciate being labeled as such.

“Words matter. When we apply labels to people, we are telling them and everyone else how we think of them, what we expect of them. Many people over 60, 65 or 70 are still working like any other adults. They are contributing to their communities, they are active and they simply are not what we think of when we hear the word ‘elderly.’ They don’t want to be called ‘senior citizens,’” she said. “Being older than middle age doesn’t mean you are elderly. Our language should better reflect that this is a huge swath of our population that includes a wide range of ages, abilities and lifestyles. They definitely aren’t all elderly.’”

Her legislation (2026-H 7496) also specifies that references to “handicapped” and “disabled” in the parts of the General Laws relating to older adults be replaced with the term “adult person(s) with disabilities.”

The bill also makes two other changes to address issues that have been identified over the course of Representative Carson’s commission’s work.
It adds a representative from a statewide aging advocacy organization as a member of the State Planning Council, and specifies that the new member must also be at least 60 years old. The purpose of the change is to sharpen the state’s focus on issues affecting older Rhode Islanders by ensuring their interests are represented in state planning, helping to prepare and direct resources appropriately as the state’s 60+ population segment grows. Currently, more than 240,000 Rhode Islanders are age 60 or older. That number is expected to increase to almost 265,000 by 2040.

The legislation also makes it easier for the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council to reach a quorum. With 33 members, many of whom are busy leaders of state agencies, organizations or businesses, the panel at times struggles with a lack of a quorum at its meetings. The bill would allow 12 members of the panel to constitute a quorum.

Constituent Meeting March 2, 2026

Listening to my constituents and learning directly from their experiences is essential to how I represent our community. That’s why I’m excited to invite you to join me for a Constituent Meeting presenting the results of my 2026 Constituent Survey on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 6:00PM at the Newport Public Library.

Each year, I ask residents to share their priorities through my annual constituent survey. My work at the State House is guided by the issues that matter most to you. The survey covers critical topics including housing and affordability, healthcare, the potential closure of the Newport Hospital Birthing Center, climate, infrastructure, and more. I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to participate; your feedback truly shapes my work and helps ensure your voices are heard in Providence.”
Constituent Meeting to Review Survey Results
📅 Monday, March 2
🕕 6:00 PM-7:30
📍Newport Public Library Program Room, 300 Spring Street, Newport, RI

Please contact me at laurenhcarson@gmail.com with any questions.

Thank you for help shaping the future of our community—I look forward to hearing from you!

Maternal health bills top Rep. Carson’s legislative agenda

Bills protect access to maternal services as future of Newport birthing center is considered
 
STATE HOUSE – On the same day Rep. Lauren H. Carson submitted a resolution declaring tomorrow Maternal Health Awareness Day in Rhode Island, she introduced two bills aimed at protecting maternal health care services in Rhode Island and on Aquidneck Island in particular.

The bills, which are the first pieces of legislation Representative Carson has submitted this year, would permanently establish a statewide advisory board to oversee implementation of the state’s maternal health care strategic plans, and make the closure or significant reduction of services at any birthing center subject to the requirements of the Hospital Conversions Act.

“Protecting maternal health and keeping Newport Hospital’s birthing center open are my highest legislative priorities this year,” said Representative Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport). “I want to make it very clear how critical the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center is to the health of Aquidneck Island, and that our state should stand firmly behind it as a pivotal health care resource for Rhode Island.”

The first bill establishes a process under the Hospital Conversions Act that must be followed if there is a proposal to close, move or significantly reduce the services of any birthing center in the state. Under the bill, any operator proposing such a change would need to submit an application to the Department of Health detailing its finances; the proposal’s various impacts on patients, staff and the community; projected changes in maternal morbidity and newborn outcomes; continuity plans for prenatal patients past 20 weeks’ gestation; and more.

The bill further requires a public hearing and an independent expert review to evaluate sustainability, feasible restructuring alternatives and pathways to avoid closure or reduction of services.

The legislation would prohibit approval unless the Department of Health finds that the birthing center cannot reasonably sustained any other way, shall not exacerbate maternal or newborn racial economic or geographic disparities, and that safe birthing access shall remain available to the affected population.

The requirements would apply statewide, although Representative Carson’s concerns are largely directed at Brown University Health’s current consideration of the future of the Stonor Drexel Birthing Center.

“The Stonor Drexel Birthing Center delivers more than 500 births annually, in addition to providing all other kinds of vital maternal care, including emergency care, to our community. This bill is intended to ensure that our island and all of Rhode Island has safe, equitable access to vital maternal health services like those that Stonor very successfully provides,” said Representative Carson.

The second bill, titled the Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026, would establish permanent statewide support for maternal health, creating a permanent Maternal Health Advisory Board. The board would oversee implementation of maternal health strategic plan that is currently under development through a five-year federal Maternal Health Innovation Grant. The bill would also require the Department of Health to develop and maintain a maternal health data and surveillance unit to collect, monitor and analyze data about maternal outcomes.

Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health to establish a maternal health workforce development program and to award community-based maternal health access grants to expand local supports. The legislation appropriates $2.7 million annually for the program beginning fiscal year 2027.

Representative Carson also introduced a resolution (2026-H 7263), which was immediately approved by the House, designating tomorrow, Jan. 23, as Maternal Health Awareness Day in Rhode Island to promote understanding of the critical importance of good maternal health care.

The resolution, which was cosponsored by House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket) and more than 25 other representatives, cites Centers of Disease Control and Prevention statistics indicating that the United States has the highest maternal morbidity rate among all wealthy nations, and that more than 80 percent of those deaths are preventable.

“All pregnant individuals should have access to comprehensive and timely prenatal services across the health care continuum,” the resolution states.

Carson urges transparency as new panel forms to discuss birthing center

STATE HOUSE – Representative Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport) today thanked Brown University Health for establishing a community advisory panel to review the operations and future of the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center at Newport Hospital, calling it an important step toward transparency and collaboration.

“I want to thank Brown University Health for recognizing how deeply the birthing center issue affects Aquidneck Island families,” said Representative Carson. “Appointing a community panel is an important first step toward meaningful dialogue and shared understanding. The future of this birthing center touches every aspect of community life — from health equity and family safety to workforce and regional stability.”

Representative Carson urged Brown University Health to ensure that the advisory process remains open, transparent and inclusive, with regular updates to the public and opportunities for community input.

“Transparency and trust will be essential,” Representative Carson said. “Families need clear information and confidence in the process as decisions are made about the future of maternal care on Aquidneck Island. I am hopeful this panel will strengthen communication between Brown Health and the Newport community, and I look forward to working collaboratively with Brown University Health as this panel conducts its important work. By maintaining strong communication and community engagement, Brown Health can build lasting trust and reaffirm its commitment to keeping Newport’s birthing services strong, safe and local.”

Representative Carson emphasized that the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center is a vital part of Newport’s health care infrastructure.

“This facility is not just a hospital department — it is an umbilical cord to safe maternal care for families and a cornerstone of equitable health care access in our region,” she said. “Closing the birthing center would create a dangerous maternity care desert on Aquidneck Island. Families should not have to cross bridges or travel 40 minutes during childbirth to access safe, high-quality maternal care. Newport County deserves local, accessible maternity services that reflect the unique needs of our island communities, and I look forward to this panel’s discussion of this matter.”

Legislators applaud suspension of plan to remove navigational aids

STATE HOUSE – Rhode Island legislators today applauded a decision by the U.S. Coast Guard to suspend its plan to remove hundreds of navigational aids off New England’s coast, including many that help guide boaters around the coast of Rhode Island.

A month after scaling back the plan, the Coast Guard announced yesterday that it will suspend the plan while it conducts further analysis.

“We are very relieved that, at least for the time being, the navigational aids that protect our boaters will continue to do so,” said Rep. Michelle McGaw (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton), who, along with Sen. Louis P. DiPalma, led an effort among Rhode Island’s lawmakers to issue a letter in June to the Coast Guard opposing the plan. All 37 senators (at the time) and 49 of the 75 members of the House of Representatives signed on. “Every one of those aids was installed for a reason, and none of us wanted to see boaters in our state put in danger because they don’t know what they’re about to run into. This time-tested system works, and we are pleased that boaters will still be able to rely on it.”

Said Senator DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton), “Long term, maintaining buoys is a solid investment in public safety because without them, we’d experience increased emergencies and rescues, property damage to vessels, and most importantly, injuries and potential loss of lives. We are glad to see this system maintained for now, and hope that the Coast Guard will recognize its value for many more years.”

The original plan would have eliminated 350 navigational aids — buoys that sometimes include bells or lights and are positioned to help boaters navigate the coast and the many hazards along it — from Maine to New York. That plan targeted 38 markers along Rhode Island’s coast. The scaled-back version of the plan took about half of the Rhode Island buoys set for elimination off the chopping block.

Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport) and Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol), who introduced matching House and Senate resolutions (2025-H 6372, 2025-S 1117) opposing the plan, also expressed their relief at the Coast Guard’s announcement.

“Boating is such a part of our state’s identity and its economy, particularly tourism. The buoys are helpful to all boaters, but especially to those who might be visiting and are unfamiliar with our waters and the hazards that can’t be seen from above. Both tourism and water safety are very important to my community, so I’m elated that the system is staying in place,” said Representative Carson.

Said Senator Ujifusa, “Technology has improved navigation in many ways, but we all know it’s not infallible. Earlier this week, we saw how its failure can leave us high and dry when a large swath of Internet-enabled technology across sectors went offline because of an outage at Amazon Web Services. Our navigational aids are a reliable, low-tech system that should always stay in place for boaters to count on.”

Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown), a cosponsor of the House resolution and owner and operator of a yacht equipment and servicing company in Portsmouth, said the captains of the ships she services were very concerned about the safety of the water if the  navigational aids were to be removed.

“Everybody relies on these buoys, not just those with small boats. Even large commercial ships need them there as a failsafe backup and a visual cue, marking the channels and the hazards. If a large ship runs aground, that’s a tremendous danger and a very expensive blow to any business. The maritime industry is an economic driver in Rhode Island, so boating safety needs to be protected,” she said. “It’s a relief to see the navigational aids maintained.”

Op-Ed: Revolution Wind construction must restart now

By Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth Middletown), Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), Rep. Michelle McGaw (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton), Rep. Jennifer Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) and Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol)

On August 22, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management abruptly issued a stop-work order on the Revolution Wind project—already 80 percent complete and vital to Rhode Island’s energy future. This offshore wind farm has undergone nearly a decade of environmental review, received all necessary permits, and was set to power more than 350,000 homes with reliable, clean energy.

The order cites vague “national security concerns,” but offers no evidence. What is clear is that it aligns with the Trump administration’s pattern of undermining clean energy in favor of entrenched fossil fuel interests that have poured millions into federal campaigns. Rhode Islanders deserve better than to see their future sacrificed for political payback.

The Revolution Wind contract delivers power at 9.84 cents per kWh, with a long-term levelized price just above 7 cents—a competitive rate that would put downward pressure on bills while diversifying our energy mix. In addition, hundreds of union jobs and hundreds of millions in local investment are now at risk.

As members of the Rhode Island General Assembly, we call on BOEM to rescind this misguided order and allow the project to be completed. Rhode Island families deserve affordable, clean energy—not more fossil-fuel politics.

Carson sponsors House resolution recognizing Ida Lewis

 
STATE HOUSE – The House of Representatives has passed a resolution introduced by Rep. Lauren H. Carson celebrating the recognition of Newport heroine Ida Lewis by the National Lighthouse Museum with its Past Light Keeper Award.

Ida Lewis (1842-1911) became known as the “Bravest Woman in America,” for saving at least 18 lives, although probably more, in the waters of Newport Harbor beginning when she was just 12 years old. In 1857 she and her family moved to what was then called Lime Rock Light House with her father, who was the light keeper, but when he fell ill just a few months after their move, Ida and her mother took over care of the light. She would tend the light for the rest of her life, being appointed the official light keeper herself in 1879.

Her incredible strength as swimmer and rower and her fearlessness enabled her to make many daring rescues, and her heroism was covered by the national media, making her the best-known lighthouse keeper of her time and the subject of popular songs, thousands of visits to the lighthouse annually by dignitaries and tourists, awards, fan mail and marriage proposals from strangers. In 1881 she became the first woman to earn the rare Gold Lifesaving Medal from the U.S. government for her rescue of two soldiers from Fort Adams who had fallen through ice. She served as light keeper at Lime Rock until her death at age 69, making her last lifesaving rescue when she was 63. The rock, the lighthouse and the yacht club now located there all bear her name.

The resolution (2025-H 6412) passed June 12 honors the Past Light Keeper Award being bestowed upon Lewis for her heroism Aug. 1 by the National Lighthouse Museum in Staten Island, NY, at the museum’s annual gala.

“Ida Lewis was a luminary of her time who proved how strong and brave a woman could be. She became an icon of the women’s rights movement, and her memory will always serve as a point of pride for Newport,” said Representative Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport).

Join Me - Constituent Meeting March 1, 2025

Please join me for my first Constituent Meeting of 2025 on March 1 from 10AM-12PM at the Newport Public Library, 300 Spring St, Newport.

I will be presenting and discussing the results of my 2025 Constituent Survey. This meeting is free and open to the public.

Understanding how my constituents feel is a critical part of my role as a State Representative. I want to faithfully and accurately represent the people of Newport. I enjoy speaking with my constituents throughout the year to understand their positions; this survey dives deeper into the issues and polls a wide range of Newporters, which helps to paint a fuller picture so that I can represent The City by the Sea in the ways that best way possible. I invite all my District 75 constituents to join me as I present the findings of this survey and generate conversation around topics that affect each of us – housing, the environment, healthcare, education, the local economy, and more.

Please contact me at laurenhcarson@gmail.com with any questions.

2025 Constituent Survey

As your state representative, I am deeply committed to serving our community and ensuring your voices are heard at the State House. Understanding the issues that matter most to you is at the heart of my work, which is why I’m excited to invite you to take part in my 2025 Constituent Survey.

Please take a few moments to share your thoughts on important topics like housing, the environment, short-term rentals, public education, aging in place, and more. Your feedback is invaluable in guiding my efforts and priorities as I continue working hard to represent you and make Rhode Island an even better place to live. Click here to take the survey.

I will be hosting a constituent survey in March, I'll share more information on that soon.

Thank you for helping shape the future of our community—I look forward to hearing from you!

I am always available at laurenhcarson@gmail.com

Thank you,
Lauren Carson
RI House Representative
District 75

Summer on Almy Pond

Summer on Almy Pond

Representative Lauren Carson – Newport

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Almy Pond in Newport is a low-lying area of the Rhode Island coast, with its rolling hills and salt marshes, and was a popular site with American artists in the mid 19th century. Their paintings typify wonderful images of Aquidneck Island.

It’s summer and our Island ponds have changed. Aquidneck Island’s fresh-water ponds have suffered decades of pollution and Almy Pond is often cited as one of the most contaminated freshwater bodies in the state. Its 203-acre watershed encompasses an area from Bellevue Avenue east to Coggeshall Avenue west, and from Ruggles Avenue north to Ocean Avenue south. Aged, leaking sewer pipes, some of which have been repaired, are only part of the problem. Heavy rainstorms linked to climate change have overburdened the drainage system, which dumps pollutants into the pond. To my dismay, E. coli has also been discovered in the pond.

Cyanobacteria — also known as blue-green algae which create these large blooms — are found naturally in fresh water but become a problem when they overproduce in ponds like Almy.

The City of Newport and its partners — a coalition of residents, academics, and nonprofits called the “Almy Pond Watershed Protectors” — have taken big steps toward improving water quality, but mitigating the contamination sources and years of pollution will take time to reverse. I attended a meeting at the Pell Center with the Protectors in April and was once again reminded of this serious situation in my Rhode Island House district and neighborhood.

The pond’s low oxygen levels and algae blooms are caused by the large amount of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, entering the water. The city has already invested in improving its stormwater management system, which it found was the biggest culprit bringing contaminants into the pond.

State and municipal officials have expanded the drainage buffer around the pond to improve local water quality. This allows the pond to act as a more effective buffer against stronger and more frequent climate change storms. Posted warnings signal when harmful algae blooms are present. More must be done.

During an algae bloom, all recreation including swimming, fishing, boating, and kayaking should be avoided. Young children and pets are at particular risk for health effects associated with harmful blooms because they are more likely to swallow water when in or around bodies of water. Common health effects associated with ingesting water containing blue-green algae include stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.

The public should be on the lookout for these harmful blooms. Affected waters may be bright to dark green in color and the water may look like green paint. Should these conditions be observed avoid contact with the water.

What should happen next?  The Protectors and the City will continue to work to bring resources to the cleanup of the pond.  Thank you, keep up the good work, and count on me to help.   Homeowners are encouraged to reduce the use of pesticides that flow into the pond, install rain barrels to capture stormwater runoff on their property before it reaches the Pond and manage pet waste. These are small, but important steps to reduce the runoff into the Pond exacerbating the already serious issues there.

July 23 Seniors Workshop - "Aging in RI"

Calling All Newport Seniors!

Aging In RI Legislative Workshop

July 23, 2024

10:00AM-12:00PM

CCRI Newport Campus

1 John H Chafee Blvd

Currently, more than 240,000 Rhode Islanders are age 60 or older. That number is expected to increase to almost 265,000 by 2040. I am committed to ensuring that Rhode Island has the resources and services available to support our current and growing senior population. Since September, I have led a statewide commission (the Special Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations Pertaining to Services and Coordination of State Programs Relating to Older Adult Rhode Islanders) to study such services for older adults in Rhode Island and make recommendations for ways to improve and coordinate them.

I invite you to join me and my commission colleagues for a workshop on July 23 at 10:00AM at the CCRI Newport Campus. We are excited to present the findings of the study commission and answer your questions. Lt. Governor Sabina Matos will speak about state programs overseen by her office, including the Long Term Care Coordinating Council.

Please join me for this conversation and contact me at 401.523.1143 or laurenhcarson@gmail.com with any questions.

Transportation

The workshop will be held at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Newport Campus at 1 John H Chafee Boulevard. CCRI is easily accessed by the RIPTA bus routes 63 and 68. Please click here for the route 63 schedule and click here for the route 68 schedule.

Learn More

To learn more about the Special Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations Pertaining to Services and Coordination of State Programs Relating to Older Adult Rhode Islanders, please click the buttons below to view videos.

Running for Reelection

I am excited to announce that I am running for my sixth term in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing District 75. 

It has been an amazing honor to represent Newport at the Rhode Island State House. I have done my best to represent Newport honestly and transparently and I take this responsibility very seriously. I promise to continue my tradition of holding constituent meetings throughout the district. I promise to be available, to respond to your needs and I promise to govern thoughtfully and honestly.

I consider serving the people of Newport my highest priority. Whether it’s helping someone settle a tax claim or a question with the Department of Motor Vehicles, I am always available to help. I also interface with the Newport City Council for state-level needs. During this 2024 session, I worked closer than ever with the Council to pass bills bringing new dollars to Newport to invest in our infrastructure and climate resilience.

My work leading the two House Study Commissions on aging and short-term rentals is not yet complete and I look forward to the opportunity to continue those conversations.

Please keep reading the full press release below for more information. As always, I am available to answer any questions you may have. Please contact me at laurenhcarson@gmail.com or call me at 401-523-1143.
 

Thank you,

Lauren Carson

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PRESS RELEASE

WHO: Rhode Island House Representative Lauren Carson
WHAT: 2024 Campaign Announcement 
WHERE: Rhode Island House District 75, Newport
CONTACT: Lauren Carson, laurenhcarson@gmail.com, 401-523-1143

NEWPORT HOUSE REP. LAUREN CARSON TO RUN FOR SIXTH TERM

Newport, RI – Rhode Island State House Representative Lauren Carson has announced that she will run for reelection for her seat representing Newport in Rhode Island House District 75.

Carson was first elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 2014. In her time at the State House, Carson has been particularly active on issues related to the environment, small business, tourism, government transparency, aging issues and serving her constituents. 

Carson said, “I consider serving the people of Newport my highest priority. Whether it’s helping someone settle a tax claim or a question with the Department of Motor Vehicles, I am always available to help. I also interface with the Newport City Council for state-level needs. During this 2024 session, I worked closer than ever with the Council to pass bills bringing new dollars to Newport to invest in our infrastructure and climate resilience.”

Climate continues to be a pillar of Carson’s work. In 2017, she sponsored a law requiring education on flooding and sea rise for local planning board members and created a unified statewide application process for solar panel permitting. In 2021, she sponsored the Act on Climate, which sets enforceable climate emissions reduction mandates. She continues to organize the Aquidneck Island Climate Caucus to engage residents in policy discussion on implementation of the Act on Climate. She works closely with the Tree and Open Space Commission on bills to regulate tree trimming by utilities, and coordinates with the Waterfront Commission to manage houseboats in Newport harbor.

Since 2023, Carson has led statewide efforts to study aging policies as well as the impacts of short-term rentals. She currently chairs two House Study Commissions to explore these issues and recommend policy to the House of Representatives. She serves on the House Internet, Small Business and Oversight Committees where she is chair of the Sub-Committee on Arts, Tourism and Recreation.  She also serves as Vice-Chair of the House Environment Committee.

On her time in office, Carson said, “I have done my best to represent Newport honestly and transparently. I take this responsibility very seriously. I promise to continue my tradition of holding constituent meetings throughout the district. I promise to be available, to respond to your needs and I promise to govern thoughtfully and honestly.”

Carson obtained a master’s degree in history from the University of Rhode Island in 2008 and a Master of Business degree from URI in 1992. She earned a BA in Sociology in 1976 from Ramapo College and is a graduate of Benedictine Academy both in New Jersey. Born on February 26, 1954, she is the mother of a son, Andrew. She has lived in Newport for over thirty years.

For more information about Carson’s background and plans for her next term, you can contact her directly at 401-523-1143 or laurenhcarson@gmail.com or visit her website at www.LaurenCarson.com. 

Please Join Me for My April 16 Constituent Meeting

Please join me for a constituent meeting for District 75 residents on April 16, 2024 from 6:00PM to 7:30PM in The Friends Room at The Newport Public Library, 300 Spring St, Newport, RI 02840.

I will be covering current legislation being debated at the State House, the two study commissions I chair, and will be available to discuss any issues or concerns you may have.

I always want to hear from my constituents about issues big and small so that I am best representing you at the State House. This is just one opportunity to get together to chat about legislation and local issues – I encourage you to reach out to me at any time outside of this meeting as well.

We will discuss at this meeting both commissions I am chairing. The Special Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations Pertaining to Services and Coordination of State Programs Relating to Older Adult Rhode Islanders will make recommendations for ways to improve and coordinate services and programs for older adults in Rhode Island. The second commission is studying the economic and social effects of the short-term rental industry in Rhode Island. This commission is evaluating the current laws around property usage and the impact of short-term rentals on the community.

Please join me on April 16 and let me know if you have any questions - you can contact me at laurenhcarson@gmail.com or 401-523-1143.