AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- JUDGMENTS, ORDERS, AND DECREES (Amends calculations of interest in civil actions a rate determined by average accepted auction price for last auction of 52 week U.S. treasury bills.)

H7033

2026 -- H 7033
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LC003901
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY --
JUDGMENTS, ORDERS, AND DECREES

Introduced By:
Representative Alex S. Finkelman

Date Introduced:
January 09, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 9-21-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-21 entitled "Judgments,
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Orders, and Decrees" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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9-21-10. Interest in civil actions.
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(a)
In any civil action in which a verdict is rendered or a decision made for pecuniary
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damages, there shall be added by the clerk of the court to the amount of damages interest
at the rate
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of twelve percent (12%) per annum
thereon from the date
the cause of action accrued

of the filing
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of the civil action calculated at a rate equal to the coupon issue yield equivalent, as determined by
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the United States secretary of the treasury, of the average accepted auction price for the last auction
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of fifty-two (52) week United States treasury bills settled immediately preceding the date of the
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filing of the action
, which shall be included in the judgment entered therein. Post-judgment interest
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shall be calculated at
the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum and accrue on both the principal
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amount of the judgment and the prejudgment interest entered therein

a rate equal to the coupon
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issue yield equivalent, as determined by the United States secretary of the treasury, of the average
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accepted auction price for the last auction of fifty-two (52) week United States treasury bills settled
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immediately preceding the date of the filing of the action
. This section shall not apply until entry
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of judgment or to any contractual obligation where interest is already provided.
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(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply in any action filed on or after January 1, 1987, for
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personal injury or wrongful death filed against a licensed physician, hospital, clinic, health

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maintenance organization, professional service corporation providing health care services, dentist,
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or dental hygienist based on professional negligence. In all such medical malpractice actions in
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which a verdict is rendered or a decision made for pecuniary damages, there shall be added by the
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clerk of the court to the amount of damages interest at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum
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thereon from the date of written notice of the claim by the claimant or his or her representative to
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the malpractice liability insurer, or to the medical or dental health care provider or the filing of the
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civil action, whichever first occurs.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY --
JUDGMENTS, ORDERS, AND DECREES
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This act would amend the calculations of interest in civil actions and provide that the
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interest would be calculated a rate equal to the coupon issue yield equivalent, as determined by the
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United States secretary of the treasury, of the average accepted auction price for the last auction of
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fifty-two (52) week United States treasury bills settled immediately preceding the date of the filing
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of the action.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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