AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES (Provides that health clubs must discontinue automatic deductions from the consumer's account or credit card within 30 calendar days of receiving a notice to stop from the consumer.)

H7181

2026 -- H 7181
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LC003926
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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 COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS --
UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES

Introduced By:
Representatives Phillips, J. Brien, Chippendale, Nardone, Place, Hull,
Azzinaro, and Shanley

Date Introduced:
January 21, 2026

Referred To:
House Corporations
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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Section 1. Chapter 6-13 of the General Laws entitled "Unfair Sales Practices" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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6-13-22. Termination of automatic deductions – Notice of rate increases or substantial
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changes in services.
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(a) Any health club, as defined in § 5-50-1, which automatically deducts from a checking
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or savings account, or a credit or debit card, or similar device, on a regular schedule, monthly or
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otherwise, for a consumer to access the health club, shall stop making such deduction within thirty
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(30) calendar days of the consumer giving the health club notice that the consumer wants the
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automatic deduction to be stopped. Notice by the consumer shall be provided in written form only
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and delivered by mail or in person.
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(b) Any health club who intends to provide a rate increase in charges or a substantial change
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in the nature of the health club, or services being provided to the consumer, shall give the consumer
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notice of the proposed rate increase or change in services by a writing executed and delivered to
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the consumer at least sixty (60) calendar days prior to the date when the rate increase or change in
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services are to take effect.
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(c) A health club may be fined up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for a violation of this
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section. In addition, any consumer against whom the health club violates the provisions of this
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section shall be entitled to terminate their contractual agreement with the health club as of the date

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of the violation, and shall not be responsible to the health club for any charges assessed by the
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health club on or after the date of the violation.
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(d) If any of the provisions of this section violate an express provision of a contract between
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a consumer and a health club, then the provisions of this section shall apply to the next renewal of
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that contract which occurs after the effective date of this section.
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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 COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS --
UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES
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This act would provide that a health club must stop automatic deductions from the
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consumer’s account or credit card within 30 calendar days of receiving a written notice that the
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consumer wants the automatic deduction to be stopped. The act would also provide that a health
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club must give a consumer at least 60 calendar days notice of a proposed rate increase or substantial
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change in services being provided to the consumer.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003926
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