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6/9/2025
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Media Advisory: Bills to assist Matunuck Oyster Bar to be heard tomorrow
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STATE HOUSE – Legislation to enable the fire-ravaged Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown to reopen by serving outdoors this summer will be heard in both the House and the Senate tomorrow.
The legislation sponsored by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown) and Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett) amends the “Take It Outside” law by allowing a food service establishment to provide temporary outdoor dining services anytime a building or other structure used as a food service establishment is rendered uninhabitable by virtue of a casualty including, but not limited, to fire or flood, for 18 months or the building is fit for occupancy. The act would sunset and expire on June 30, 2027.
The House Small Business Committee, which is chaired by Representative McEntee, is scheduled to meet for a hearing and possible consideration of the House bill (2025-H 6392) tomorrow, Tuesday, June 10, at 3 p.m. in Room 101 on the first floor of the State House.
The Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow, Tuesday, June 10, at 3:30 p.m. in the Senate lounge on the second floor of the State House, and the Senate bill (2025-S 1139) is among those before it for hearings and possible consideration.
The legislation would enable the critically acclaimed restaurant to serve customers across the street from its building in a parking lot owned by Matunuck Oyster Bar owner Perry Raso, and keep 50 employees of the restaurant working during the busy summer months.
Both meetings will be televised by Capitol Television on channels 15 and 61 for high definition on Cox Communications, channel 15 on i3Broadband (Formerly Full Channel) and channel 34 for Verizon viewers. Senate committee hearings may also air on Channel 75 for Cox subscribers. Livestreaming is available at https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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