Rhode Island House · District 70

Working for Tiverton at the State House.

Jay Edwards has represented Tiverton since he was first elected in 2008. If a state issue is getting in your way, he wants to hear from you.

Get help with a state issue See Jay’s record

House committee hearing

Need a hand with a state agency? Start here.

EmailJay@elect-jay.com Call401-662-6280 WriteSend a message

What Jay has done for Tiverton

Three places in District 70 where his work at the State House changed something at home.

Sakonnet River Bridge
Took the tolls off the bridge
In 2014 Jay led the East Bay delegation’s effort in the House to halt tolling, and helped shape the compromise that took the tolls down.
Tiverton casino
Kept the casino money coming to town
A $200,000 annual host-community fee in the state budget, plus the town stipend for as long as the casino is open: an extra $3,000,000 for FY21.
Seapowet Cove
Protected Seapowet Cove for good
Jay’s 2024 bill preserves the cove from commercial and residential development and adds it to the Seapowet Marsh Management Area.

District 70 (the southern tip of Tiverton is District 71)Source: U.S. Census TIGER 2024

What Jay fights for

The issues he carries at the State House for all of Rhode Island.

Civil rights & equality

Equal treatment under state law

From marriage equality in 2013 to the 2024 Shield Bill protecting Rhode Island healthcare professionals from out-of-state interference.

Environment

Making polluters pay

The General Assembly’s only LEED AP. His 2009 Bay Street Bill dramatically increased fines on industrial polluters.

Substance use policy

Getting people into treatment

A former director of Caritas and an NCSL Opioid Policy Fellow, Jay sponsored the law connecting overdose patients with peer recovery support.

A record you can check

Bills Jay sponsored or carried, by year.

first elected: 2008
bills highlighted: 18

2024
Seapowet Cove Preservation
Preserves Seapowet Cove from commercial & residential development and adds it to the Seapowet Marsh Management Area under RIDEM control.
Environment
2024
Shield Bill
Provides protection for healthcare professionals who provide legal medical services in RI from out-of-State entities who only want to interfere with legal medical procedures in RI.
Civil Rights & Equality
2021
Harm Reduction
Establishes a pilot program for the first harm reduction center in the US
Substance Use Policy
2021
Rape Kit Reform
Requires the prompt testing of rape kits and addresses the rape kit backlog.
Judicial
2014
Housing Protection
Ensures that tenants aren't evicted during foreclosures
Civil Rights & Equality
2013
Marriage Equality
Legalizes same-sex marriage
Civil Rights & Equality

All 18 bills, by category →

A lifelong Rhode Islander, at home in Tiverton

A lifelong Rhode Islander, Jay has been involved in community service and public policy for most of his life. He lives in Tiverton with his wife, Donna. They have three children, John, Kelsey, and Mae, and granddaughters Amelia, Sloan, and Nora.

Committees: House Finance, Municipal Government, Labor, Oversight
Also: The only LEED AP in the General Assembly
Community: Tiverton Land Trust; 100+ gallons donated to the RI Blood Center
Education: St. George’s School; Northeastern University

Read Jay’s story →

Send Jay a message

Trouble with a state agency, a question about a bill, or something Tiverton needs from the State House: tell Jay about it here.

Email: Jay@elect-jay.com
Call: 401-662-6280
Not in District 70?: The southern tip of Tiverton is District 71. Your own state representative is the best person to help with state issues.