REP. MARY ANN SHALLCROSS SMITH, D-Lincoln, recently received the Barbara C. Burlingame Award from the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes a Rhode Island elected official who has made outstanding contributions to the business community and individuals who exhibit the highest excellence, dedication and accomplishment in public service. Shallcross Smith, the founder of Dr. Day Care, received the award during the Chamber’s 34th annual Celebration event on Feb. 25.
What does receiving the Burlingame Award from the Chamber mean to you?Receiving this award is such an honor, especially as it honors the legacy of Barbara C. Burlingame. For me, it is coming full circle. Back in the 1980s, as a young businesswoman in my 30s, I arrived at the R.I. Statehouse to testify on child care bills and was feeling overwhelmed. Rep. Burlingame noticed my apprehension and took the time to pull me aside and teach me the ropes of the Statehouse – how to testify on a bill, the value of networking, and how to advocate for the passage of a bill. … This esteemed award is a symbol of my sincere gratitude for both Barbara and my public service.
In your time serving on the R.I. House Committee on Small Business, what initiatives have you helped spearhead in support of small businesses across the state? As a business owner for more than 50 years, I understand small business and always advocate for small businesses. I sponsored successful legislation in 2021 that gives all businesses the flexibility to file annual reports with the R.I. secretary of state between Feb. 1 and May 1 each year. Locally, I was approached about getting a crosswalk at the Hearthside Museum in Lincoln. Passionate about improving road safety, I believe residents should be able to walk through their community without fear. In December 2024, the R.I. Department of Transportation installed the ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act]-compliant crosswalk, pedestrian signs and flag system.
Last year, you helped create a medical debt relief program to help Rhode Islanders eliminate such debt. What does the program offer? In 2024, I sponsored a bill that the R.I. General Assembly passed into law that prohibits debt collectors from reporting medical debt to credit bureaus. This led to the creation of a medical debt relief program that prohibits hospitals and other medical providers from reporting medical debt to consumer reporting agencies.
What new initiatives are you looking to propose to further support local businesses? I recently sponsored a law that provides funding for a psychiatric resource network for providers treating children and new parents. MomsPRN serves providers treating pregnant and postpartum patients and PediPRN serves primary care providers treating children and adolescents. Both programs provide medical professionals with access to consultations with licensed mental health professionals to assist them in treating the mental health concerns of their patients. n
