The Newport state senator reflects on the U.S. war in Iran, Rhode Island’s renewable energy future and the political fallout after losing her Senate committee chairmanship.

It’s a similar concern shared by Sen. Dawn Euer, a Newport Democrat who cast the lone vote against McCaffrey’s advancement.

Euer was deputy director for the successful campaign to legalize same-sex marriage in 2013. With LGTBQ+ rights under the crosshairs of the Trump administration, she said it’s “critically important” that the District Court vacancy is filled by someone with a record of protecting civil liberties.

“I think it’s possible he evolved, but I don’t think based on words we should be awarding a lifetime appointment,” she said in an interview. “If someone evolves in one direction, can they evolve in another?”

A new law sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Dawn Euer and Rep. Arthur Handy will prepare Rhode Island for the development of electric energy storage systems as it moves away from carbon emission-producing fuels and toward renewable energy.

The legislation (2024-S 2499A, 2024-H 7811aa), which was signed into law Wednesday, sets a series of benchmarks for energy storage capacity for Rhode Island’s power grid and directs the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank and the Office of Energy Resources to develop and fund programs to meet these goals.

While Rhode Islanders can avoid the costly and complex process of probate when they pass along financial assets like pension plans and life insurance policies to a named beneficiary, these mechanisms do not exist for Rhode Islanders looking to leave their home to a loved one after their death. Legislation sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer would give Rhode Islanders this option.

“Every year I hear from constituents who want to pass along the family home without the time, headache and costly legal fees associated with probate or a trust,” said Senator Euer (D-District 13, Newport, Jamestown).