Valarie Jean Lawson
Democratic · RI · Rhode Island State Senator, District 14
Valarie Lawson has represented Rhode Island Senate District 14 since 2018 and has served as Senate president since 2025. She taught in East Providence public schools for 32 years and leads the National Education Association Rhode Island.
Where Valarie Jean Lawson stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (5 records), Labor Rights (1 record), Immigration (1 record),
Opposes
Cost of Living Reduction (2 records)
Campaign finance information not available
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 5 support
Voted to ban plants that burn or chemically break down waste and plastics into fuel at the Quonset industrial park until June 2027. It passed the Senate 29-9.
June 10, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Voted to make kratom legal to sell to adults 21 and over, with labeling rules and a ban on mixing it with harmful substances. It passed the Senate 23-10.
June 21, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Voted to replace the 10-member coastal council with a 7-member board whose members must have environmental expertise. It passed the Senate 25-10.
June 20, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Voted to require that cosmetic procedures at medical spas be done by a doctor or by staff a doctor supervises on site. It passed the Senate 28-9.
June 17, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Voted to keep Rhode Island's supervised drug-use centers open two more years, to March 2028. The centers are meant to prevent overdose deaths. It passed the Senate 27-7.
May 13, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Track record — Labor Rights
Labor Rights · 1 support
Voted to treat a police officer's heart disease, stroke or high blood pressure as a job-related disability, as firefighters are already treated. It passed the Senate 29-8.
May 15, 2025Supports Labor Rights
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Track record — Cost of Living Reduction
Cost of Living Reduction · 2 oppose
Voted to let Providence raise its property tax levy by up to 8 percent in one year, above the usual state cap. It passed the Senate 28-7.
June 20, 2025Opposes Cost of Living Reduction
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Voted to bury part of a high-voltage power line in Providence and East Providence. Electric customers in those two cities pay the extra cost through their bills. It passed the Senate 28-9.
June 18, 2025Opposes Cost of Living Reduction
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Track record — Immigration
Immigration · 1 support
Voted to keep federal immigration agents at least 200 feet from any polling place while voting is going on. It passed the Senate 29-8.
June 9, 2026Supports Immigration
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Voted to make it a crime for a prisoner to use force or a weapon to resist a lawful order from a corrections officer. It passed the Senate 25-13.
June 11, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 5 support
Voted to make towns answer a written zoning question within 20 days instead of 15, and to let the applicant appeal that answer. It passed the Senate 28-7.
June 21, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Voted to require town zoning rules to allow attached single-family homes, such as townhouses, in designated districts. It passed the Senate 23-12.
June 20, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Voted to define co-living housing, where residents rent a private room and share a kitchen or bath, and let towns allow it. It passed the Senate 25-10.
June 20, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Voted to require town zoning rules to allow homes in commercial districts, including apartments above shops. It passed the Senate 25-10.
June 20, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Voted to require town zoning rules to allow housing other than detached single-family homes in sewered areas inside the urban services boundary. It passed the Senate 23-12.
June 20, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 1 support
Voted to ban the sale, manufacture and purchase of assault-style firearms in Rhode Island starting July 2026. It passed the Senate 25-11.
June 20, 2025Supports Gun Control
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Track record — Election Integrity
Election Integrity · 1 support
Voted to keep federal immigration agents at least 200 feet from any polling place while voting is going on. It passed the Senate 29-8.
June 9, 2026Supports Election Integrity
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 2 support
Voted to bury part of a high-voltage power line in Providence and East Providence. Electric customers in those two cities pay the extra cost through their bills. It passed the Senate 28-9.
June 18, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Voted to let Rhode Island's electric utility buy nuclear power and sign long-term contracts for it. It passed the Senate 23-14.
June 18, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: legiscan.com · researched September 21, 2026
Race Valarie Jean Lawson is in:
- SENATOR IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY · November 3, 2026 · State Senate District 14; Rhode Island · incumbent
Profile last researched September 20, 2026.