Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Voted to require doctors and hospitals to tell patients when artificial intelligence is used to write up their visit. It passed the House 51-14.

June 11, 2026Supports AI Regulation

Source: legiscan.com

Sponsored the Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act, enacted on June 24, 2026, which set up studies and a 12-member task force on shared neighborhood heating and cooling networks.

June 24, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Introduced a bill on February 12, 2026 to let people and insurers sue oil and gas companies that misled the public about climate change for climate disaster damage. A House committee held it.

February 12, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 24, 2025, that lets the state infrastructure bank set up a fund to help cities and towns pay for flood resilience and stormwater projects.

June 24, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted for a bill requiring large buildings to report their energy use, with the state energy office publishing the results. It passed the House 48-20.

June 20, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 13, 2025, that requires sewage sludge spread on land to be tested for PFAS every three months and lets the state reject risky spreading.

June 13, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

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 House 51-16.

May 29, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: legiscan.com

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 House 40-24.

May 29, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: legiscan.com

Sponsored the Consumer PFAS Ban Act, signed on June 26, 2024, which bans products with added PFAS "forever chemicals" from 2027 and bans firefighting foam with added PFAS.

June 26, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 17, 2024, that pushed back the ban on PFAS in food packaging to January 1, 2025, and in processing agents to July 1, 2027.

June 17, 2024Opposes Environment and Public Health

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, enacted on June 23, 2023, that made clean transportation, clean heating and energy storage projects eligible for state infrastructure bank grants.

June 23, 2023Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Introduced a bill on February 15, 2023 to require new buildings to be all-electric, with exceptions for restaurants, hospitals and labs. A House committee held it.

February 15, 2023Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 29, 2022, that bans the sale of food packaging containing PFAS, the long-lasting "forever chemicals", starting in 2024.

June 29, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 27, 2022, that applies the state's green building standards to public building projects larger than 10,000 square feet.

June 27, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted to require that all of Rhode Island's electricity come from renewable sources by 2033. It passed the House 56-13.

June 14, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on July 9, 2021, that lets the state's 21 coastal towns adopt the coastal council's flood and sea-level-rise review process for local building permits.

July 9, 2021Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored the Nathan Bruno and Jason Flatt Act, signed on July 2, 2021, which requires suicide awareness and prevention training for teachers, students and school staff.

July 2, 2021Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted to ban new high-heat waste processing plants in certain environmentally sensitive areas. It passed the House 44-22.

June 30, 2021Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted for the 2021 Act on Climate, which made the state's greenhouse gas reduction targets mandatory. It passed the House 53-22.

March 23, 2021Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to raise Rhode Island's minimum wage from $11.50 to $15 an hour over four years. It passed the House 58-16.

May 6, 2021Supports Reduce Wealth Gap

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to cover domestic workers in private homes under the state minimum wage law. It passed the House 56-12.

May 4, 2023Supports Labor Rights

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to raise Rhode Island's minimum wage from $11.50 to $15 an hour over four years. It passed the House 58-16.

May 6, 2021Supports Labor Rights

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Introduced a bill on February 27, 2026 to create a performance audit division in the state auditor general's office to review agencies and contractors that get public money. A House committee held it.

February 27, 2026Supports Government Efficiency

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 4, 2024, that lets local town and city clerks issue certified copies of state birth, death and marriage records.

June 4, 2024Supports Government Efficiency

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

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 House 56-17.

May 27, 2025Opposes Cost of Living Reduction

Source: legiscan.com

Voted to bar civil arrests at Rhode Island courthouses without a judge's warrant, which protects people going to court from immigration arrest. It passed the House 56-16.

June 10, 2026Supports Immigration

Source: legiscan.com

Voted to let residents who cannot prove legal immigration status get a state ID card, which cannot be used for voting. It passed the House 59-14.

June 14, 2023Supports Immigration

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to remove the time limit for prosecuting second-degree sexual assault and set a 10-year limit for third-degree sexual assault. It passed the House 44-24.

May 2, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to bar civil arrests at Rhode Island courthouses without a judge's warrant, which protects people going to court from immigration arrest. It passed the House 56-16.

June 10, 2026Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: legiscan.com

Voted to let people with more than one non-violent felony clear their records after 15 years without a new arrest. It passed the House 56-14.

June 9, 2026Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: legiscan.com

Voted to require yearly outside studies and statewide reports on racial differences in police traffic stops and searches. It passed the House 50-17.

June 20, 2025Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to let people with one felony and one misdemeanor clear the felony from their record after a waiting period, excluding violent crimes. It passed the House 54-19.

June 13, 2024Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 22, 2023, that requires police training on how to recognize and respond to people with cognitive or communication disabilities.

June 22, 2023Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted to stop towns from using zoning to treat certified addiction recovery homes worse than other houses on the street. It passed the House 53-15.

June 11, 2026Supports Housing Affordability

Source: legiscan.com

Voted to let courts seal eviction case files after a case ends, such as when back rent was paid. It passed the House 51-19.

June 15, 2023Supports Housing Affordability

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 12, 2024, that requires school districts to give families of students with special education plans information about ABLE savings accounts for people with disabilities.

June 12, 2024Supports Social Programs and Welfare

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted to keep Rhode Island out of the new federal private-school voucher tax credit unless the legislature and governor both approve joining. It passed the House 55-14.

June 10, 2026Supports Public Education Quality

Source: legiscan.com

Introduced a bill on February 27, 2026, for the fourth year in a row, to let students with disabilities aged 18 to 21 attend state colleges using their state school aid. A House committee held it.

February 27, 2026Supports Public Education Quality

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 26, 2023, that requires school districts to tell families about their special education parent advisory committee.

June 26, 2023Supports Public Education Quality

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted to ban the sale, manufacture and purchase of assault-style firearms in Rhode Island starting July 2026. It passed the House 44-28.

June 20, 2025Supports Gun Control

Source: legiscan.com

Voted to let family court share juvenile criminal records with the federal background check system used for gun purchases. It passed the House 46-20.

May 28, 2024Supports Gun Control

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to require gun owners to store firearms safely, with penalties for violations. It passed the House 46-24.

May 28, 2024Supports Gun Control

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to ban carrying a loaded rifle or shotgun in public, with exceptions such as hunting and police work. It passed the House 53-16.

June 10, 2022Supports Gun Control

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to raise the minimum age to buy guns or ammunition from 18 to 21. It passed the House 53-15.

June 10, 2022Supports Gun Control

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to make owning gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds a felony. It passed the House 43-27.

June 10, 2022Supports Gun Control

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to ban guns on school grounds, except for police and school security. It passed the House 44-28.

June 30, 2021Supports Gun Control

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to ban buying a gun for someone who is not allowed to have one and to raise penalties for lying on gun purchase forms. It passed the House 46-27.

June 30, 2021Supports Gun Control

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to shield Rhode Island health care providers from lawsuits and prosecution by other states over reproductive and gender-affirming care. It passed the House 50-15.

June 11, 2024Supports Women's Reproductive Rights

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to cover abortion in Medicaid and state employee health plans. It passed the House 49-24.

April 27, 2023Supports Women's Reproductive Rights

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted for final passage of the Reproductive Privacy Act, which wrote abortion rights under Roe v. Wade into state law. It passed the House 45-29.

June 19, 2019Supports Women's Reproductive Rights

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to require doctors and hospitals to tell patients when artificial intelligence is used to write up their visit. It passed the House 51-14.

June 11, 2026Supports Data Privacy

Source: legiscan.com

Sponsored a law, enacted on June 27, 2023, that requires state and local agencies to report data breaches, notify affected workers' unions, and report cyberattacks to the state police.

June 27, 2023Supports Data Privacy

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted to stop towns from using zoning to treat certified addiction recovery homes worse than other houses on the street. It passed the House 53-15.

June 11, 2026Supports Civil Rights

Source: legiscan.com

Voted for a Homeless Bill of Rights bill setting steps that must be followed before a homeless encampment can be removed or relocated. It passed the House 56-13.

May 5, 2026Supports Civil Rights

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Introduced a bill on February 27, 2026, for the fourth year in a row, to let students with disabilities aged 18 to 21 attend state colleges using their state school aid. A House committee held it.

February 27, 2026Supports Civil Rights

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted for the Freedom to Read Act, which bars public and school libraries from removing books over objections to their ideas and requires model library policies. It passed the House 62-11.

June 16, 2025Supports Civil Rights

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, enacted on June 20, 2024, that adds supported decision-making to the court forms as an option to consider before putting an adult under guardianship.

June 20, 2024Supports Civil Rights

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted to shield Rhode Island health care providers from lawsuits and prosecution by other states over reproductive and gender-affirming care. It passed the House 50-15.

June 11, 2024Supports Civil Rights

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to let voters with disabilities and military voters use ballots sent to them electronically. It passed the House 45-16.

June 17, 2022Supports Civil Rights

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted for the Let RI Vote Act, which allowed mail voting without an excuse and dropped the witness or notary rule for mail ballots. It passed the House 53-13.

May 17, 2022Supports Civil Rights

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to allow electronic ballots for voters with disabilities and military voters. It passed the House 48-17.

June 16, 2021Supports Civil Rights

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on May 26, 2021, that bars the state from using a parent's disability as the only reason to open a child abuse investigation or limit custody, foster care or adoption.

May 26, 2021Supports Civil Rights

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Introduced a bill on February 12, 2026 to let people and insurers sue oil and gas companies that misled the public about climate change for climate disaster damage. A House committee held it.

February 12, 2026Supports Corporate Accountability

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted to give the attorney general power to investigate and sue over repeated illegal conduct by businesses or government bodies. It passed the House 51-20.

June 13, 2024Supports Corporate Accountability

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Introduced a bill on February 27, 2026 to give the RIPTA bus system 20 percent of the state highway maintenance fund each year for operating costs. A House committee held it.

February 27, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 24, 2025, that lets the state infrastructure bank set up a fund to help cities and towns pay for flood resilience and stormwater projects.

June 24, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Led the House study commission on climate change impacts and solutions as its chair, and chaired the House Finance subcommittee on transportation and environment, as reported on July 7, 2026.

July 7, 2026

Source: whatsupnewp.com

Sponsored a law, signed on June 23, 2026, that lets the state environment department lease its ports and marinas, including State Pier 9 in Newport, for up to 40 years.

June 23, 2026

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a joint resolution, signed on June 22, 2026, that created a 21-member legislative commission to study how Rhode Island manages sewage sludge.

June 22, 2026

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 19, 2026, that clarified enforcement of the state's consumer PFAS ban, let the environment department join a multistate clearinghouse, and let it exempt some products.

June 19, 2026

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 18, 2026, that requires landlords renting shoreline property to give tenants a written notice of the public's shoreline access rights.

June 18, 2026

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a House resolution creating a commission to study shared services between Rhode Island school districts. The House adopted it 71-0 on June 9, 2026.

June 9, 2026

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, enacted on May 6, 2026, that lets Middletown give its veterans' property tax exemption to all honorably discharged veterans, whatever their dates of service.

May 6, 2026

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a bill to freeze the state energy code at the 2024 national version until 2031 unless lawmakers approve changes. It passed the House 65-0 on April 2, 2026, but did not become law.

April 2, 2026

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Introduced a bill on February 27, 2026 to put the state sales tax on digital advertising services. A House committee held it.

February 27, 2026

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Introduced a bill on January 21, 2026 to bring back yearly state revenue sharing with all 39 cities and towns, tied to population and inflation. A House committee held it.

January 21, 2026

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 27, 2025, that requires any change to parking near public shoreline access points to protect public access to the shore.

June 27, 2025

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 24, 2025, that removed the words "naturally occurring" from the arsenic rule, so state cleanup rules may not require removal of any arsenic in soil below 19 parts per million.

June 24, 2025

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted against replacing the 10-member coastal council with a 7-member board of environmental experts. It passed the House 52-19.

June 20, 2025

Source: legiscan.com

Sponsored a law, signed on June 13, 2025, that shortened school bus driver training for people who already hold a commercial driver's license.

June 13, 2025

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, enacted on May 9, 2025, that lets Middletown set a lower property tax rate for owner-occupied homes than for other homes.

May 9, 2025

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a bill letting towns give up upkeep of old town roads while keeping them open to the public as walking, biking and hiking trails. It passed the House 69-0 on April 29, 2025, but did not become law.

April 29, 2025

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Introduced a bill on February 26, 2025 to replace the state's appointed coastal council with a state department of coastal resources. A House committee held it.

February 26, 2025

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Received the Rhode Island Clean Water Association's Clean Water Legislator of the Year award on February 6, 2025, for her work on water contamination and climate change.

February 6, 2025

Source: whatsupnewp.com

Sponsored a law, enacted on June 28, 2024, that lets low-speed vehicles drive on roads with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less.

June 28, 2024

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a joint resolution, signed on June 26, 2024, that created a 13-member commission to study student transportation needs and costs.

June 26, 2024

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 25, 2024, that changed how local zoning rules on wetland buffers apply to building and redevelopment projects.

June 25, 2024

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 17, 2024, that bars state cleanup rules from requiring removal of naturally occurring arsenic in soil below 19 parts per million.

June 17, 2024

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 17, 2024, that lets licensed land surveyors enter private land to do survey work after giving notice, with some exceptions.

June 17, 2024

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 17, 2024, that requires home and land sale disclosure forms to tell buyers about the public's rights along the shore.

June 17, 2024

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a House resolution creating a 17-member commission to study how climate change affects Rhode Island. The House adopted it 74-0 on June 11, 2024.

June 11, 2024

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted for the House overhaul of the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, which set a new hearing panel for police discipline. It passed the House 58-14.

May 9, 2024

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, enacted on June 27, 2023, that added the Rhode Island Teacher of the Year as a member of the state's K-12 education council and board of education.

June 27, 2023

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored the 2023 shoreline access law, signed on June 26, 2023, that lets the public use the shore on wet or dry sand or rocks up to 10 feet above the high tide line.

June 26, 2023

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on June 21, 2023, that set rules for registering and driving low-speed vehicles in Rhode Island.

June 21, 2023

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted to change how towns may cap unrelated people sharing a home: the cap can be no lower than one person per bedroom and no higher than five. It passed the House 49-22.

June 15, 2023

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted to legalize online casino gambling (iGaming) in Rhode Island. It passed the House 59-11.

June 15, 2023

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted against raising the campaign contribution limit for individuals and political action committees to $2,000 a year and changing other reporting rules. It passed the House 41-29.

June 12, 2023

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted against new rules for write-in candidates, including a declaration of intent and residency rules, and counting their votes only in close races. It passed the House 39-26.

June 1, 2023

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Was named an Environmental Champion by Clean Water Action on May 12, 2023, for her work to protect Rhode Island water from PFAS chemicals.

May 12, 2023

Source: thenewportbuzz.com

Sponsored a law, enacted on June 17, 2022, that let Portsmouth's municipal court act as a housing court to hear state building code violations.

June 17, 2022

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, enacted on June 17, 2022, that lets homeowners ask the local zoning board or official whether a planned use of their property needs a special use permit.

June 17, 2022

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older and set up a state commission to regulate sales. It passed the House 55-16.

May 24, 2022

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Voted against overriding the governor's veto of a bill changing the rules insurers must follow when settling auto body repair claims. The override passed the House 44-17.

January 4, 2022

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Sponsored a law, signed on July 2, 2021, that lets city and town tax assessors use the last property revaluation or update as the value for property taxes.

July 2, 2021

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Voted for a two-year pilot of harm reduction centers, where people can use drugs they already have under medical supervision. It passed the House 63-9.

June 29, 2021

Source: votes.rilegislature.gov

Introduced a proposed constitutional amendment on February 26, 2020 to lower the voting age in Rhode Island from 18 to 16. It did not pass.

February 26, 2020

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov

Served nine years on the Portsmouth School Committee and was its elected chair from 2014, as reported on January 29, 2018.

January 29, 2018

Source: whatsupnewp.com