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H7199A
2026 -- H 7199 SUBSTITUTE A
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LC003973/SUB A/2
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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 PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT -- RHODE
ISLAND SURVIVOR EARLY LEASE TERMINATION ACT
Introduced By:
Representatives Alzate, Craven, Casimiro, Speakman, Fogarty, Giraldo,
Hull, Shanley, Felix, and Potter
Date Introduced:
January 21, 2026
Referred To:
House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 34-18-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-18 entitled "Residential
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Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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34-18-11. Definitions.
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Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent sections of this chapter which
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apply to specific sections thereof, and unless the context otherwise requires, in this chapter:
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(1) "Abandonment" means the tenant has vacated the premises without notice to the
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landlord and has no intention of returning, as evidenced by nonpayment of rent for more than fifteen
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(15) days and removal of substantially all possessions from the premises;
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(2) "Abuse" means an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm
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to an individual and, for purposes of this chapter includes, but is not limited to, any of the following
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crimes, regardless of whether these acts or threats have been reported to law enforcement officers:
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(i) Child abuse (§ 11-9-5.3);
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(ii) Child molestation (§§ 11-37-8.1 and 11-37-8.3);
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(iii) Domestic violence;
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(iv) Enticement of children (§ 11-26-1.5);
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(v) Indecent solicitation of a child (§ 11-37-8.8);
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(vi) Kidnapping (§§ 11-26-1 and 11-26-1.4);
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(vii) Sexual assault (chapter 37 of title 11);
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(viii) Stalking (§ 11-59-2);
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(ix) Strangulation (§ 11-5-2.3); and
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(x) Trafficking (chapter 67.1 of title 11).
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(2)
(3)
"Action" includes recoupment, counterclaim, set-off, suit in equity, and any other
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proceeding in which rights are determined, including an action for possession;
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(3)
(4)
"Building and housing codes" include any law, ordinance, or governmental
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regulation concerning fitness for habitation, or the construction, maintenance, operation,
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occupancy, use, or appearance of any premises of dwelling unit;
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(5) "Domestic violence" for purposes of this chapter, means, but is not limited to, any of
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the following crimes when committed by one family or household member against another,
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regardless of whether these acts or threats have been reported to law enforcement officers:
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(i) Simple assault (§ 11-5-3);
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(ii) Felony assaults (chapter 5 of title 11);
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(iii) Vandalism (§ 11-44-1);
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(iv) Disorderly conduct (§ 11-45-1);
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(v) Trespass (§ 11-44-26);
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(vi) Kidnapping (§ 11-26-1);
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(vii) Child-snatching (§ 11-26-1.1);
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(viii) Sexual assault (§§ 11-37-2 and 11-37-4);
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(ix) Homicide (§§ 11-23-1 and 11-23-3);
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(x) Violation of the provisions of a protective order entered pursuant to § 15-5-19, chapter
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15 of title 15, or chapter 8.1 of title 8 where the respondent has knowledge of the order and the
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penalty for its violation, or a violation of a no contact order issued pursuant to § 12-29-4;
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(xi) Stalking (chapter 59 of title 11);
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(xii) Refusal to relinquish or to damage or to obstruct a telephone (§ 11-35-14);
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(xiii) Burglary and unlawful entry (chapter 8 of title 11);
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(xiv) Arson (chapter 4 of title 11);
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(xv) Cyberstalking and cyberharassment (§ 11-52-4.2);
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(xvi) Domestic assault by strangulation (§ 11-5-2.3);
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(xvii) Electronic tracking of motor vehicles (§ 11-69-1); or
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(xviii) Abuse.
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(4)
(6)
"Dwelling unit" means a structure or part of a structure that is designed or intended
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to be used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one or more persons;
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(5)
(7)
"Fair rental value" means rent which is of comparable value with that of other rental
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properties of similar size and condition within the contiguous neighborhood;
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(6)
(8)
"Good faith" means honesty in fact in the conduct of the transaction concerned;
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(9) "Household member" means a person residing with a tenant as an authorized occupant
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of the premises.
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(7)
(10)
"Landlord" means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of the dwelling unit or the
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building of which it is a part, and it also means a manager of the premises who fails to disclose as
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required by § 34-18-20;
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(8)
(11)
"Ordinary wear and tear" means deterioration of the premises which is the result of
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the tenant's normal nonabusive living and includes, but is not limited to, deterioration caused by
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the landlord's failure to prepare for expected conditions or by the landlord's failure to comply with
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his or her obligations;
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(9)
(12)
"Organization" includes a corporation, government, governmental subdivision or
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agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership of association, two (2) or more persons having a
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joint or common interest, and any other legal or commercial entity;
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(10)
(13)
"Owner" shall mean any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others:
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(i) Has legal title or tax title (pursuant to §§ 44-9-40 — 44-9-46, inclusive, of the general
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laws) to any dwelling, dwelling unit or structure with or without accompanying actual possession
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thereof; or
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(ii) Has charge, care, or control of any dwelling, dwelling unit or structure as owner or
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agent of the owner, or an executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian of the estate of the owner.
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Any person representing the actual owner in this way shall be bound to comply with the provisions
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of this chapter and of rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto to the same extent as if he or
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she were the owner.
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(11)
(14)
"Person" includes an individual or organization;
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(12)
(15)
"Premises" means a dwelling unit and the structure of which it is a part and
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facilities and appurtenances therein and grounds, areas, and facilities held out for the use of tenants
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generally, or the use of which is promised to the tenant;
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(13)
(16)
"Rent" means the payment or consideration that a tenant pays to a landlord for the
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use of the premises, whether money, services, property, or produce of the land;
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(14)
(17)
"Rental agreement" means all agreements, written or oral, and valid rules and
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regulations adopted under § 34-18-25 embodying the terms and conditions concerning the use and
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occupancy of a dwelling unit and premises, and also includes any terms required by law;
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(15)
(18)
"Roomer" means a tenant occupying a dwelling unit which consists of any room
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or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and
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sleeping, but not for cooking or eating purposes;
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(16)
(19)
"Security deposit" means a sum of money given by a tenant to a landlord at the
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outset of the tenancy or shortly thereafter, as a deposit against physical damages to the tenant's
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dwelling unit during said tenancy;
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(17)
(20)
"Tenant" means a person entitled under a rental agreement to occupy a dwelling
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unit to the exclusion of others;
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(18)
(21)
"Transitional housing facility" means a facility which, for a period not to exceed
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two (2) years, provides its residents with appropriate social services for the purpose of fostering
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independence, self sufficiency, and eventual transition to a permanent living arrangement;
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(19)
(22)
"Willful" means that the act was performed intentionally, knowingly and
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purposely, not accidentally or inadvertently and without justifiable excuse.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 34-18 of the General Laws entitled "Residential Landlord and Tenant
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Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:
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34-18-63. Early lease termination by tenant due to abuse, domestic violence, sexual
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assault, or stalking.
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(a) A tenant may terminate their lease or rental agreement without penalty or fees for early
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termination, or liability for future rent when:
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(1) The tenant or household member within the most recent one hundred fifty (150) days
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has been a victim of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or
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(2) Within the most recent one hundred fifty (150) days, an event occurs relative to the
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victim of past abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, that, in conjunction with the
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past abuse, causes a victim lessee or victim household member to fear for their safety.
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(3) This right to terminate the lease or rental agreement pursuant to this subsection shall be
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conditioned on:
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(i) The tenant or household member of a tenant who is the victim provides the lessor or
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owner with written verification that the tenant or household member of a tenant has obtained a valid
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protective order against the perpetrator of the abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking;
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or
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(ii) The tenant or household member of a tenant who is the victim:
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(A) Initiates legal action to obtain a protective order and provides written verification
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thereof to the lessor or owner; or
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(B) Reports the abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to a law enforcement
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agency and provides written verification thereof to the lessor or owner; or
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(C) Provides written verification from a law enforcement official, attorney, health care
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provider, social worker, mental health counselor, therapist, domestic violence advocate, sexual
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assault advocate, child abuse advocate, or other victim's advocate at a nonprofit organization,
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college, university or state agency, that the tenant or their household member are a victim of abuse,
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domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
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(b) The written verification provided to the lessor or owner, including the fact that an
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individual is a victim of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, shall be maintained
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in strict confidence. The lessor or owner shall keep this information and any further personally-
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identifiable information of the tenant and tenant's household members (such as address, social
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security number, email, phone number, birthdate) confidential and shall not disclose this
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information to any other entity, party or individual, except to the extent that such disclosure is:
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(1) Requested and consented to in writing by the tenant or household member of the tenant
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who is the victim of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or
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(2) Otherwise required by applicable law.
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(c) The tenant who has given notice shall vacate the premises within thirty (30) days of
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giving notice to the landlord or at any other time as may be agreed upon by the landlord and the
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tenant.
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(d) For the purposes of determining rent owed, a tenant who terminates a lease or rental
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agreement pursuant to this section is only liable, if solely or jointly liable for purposes of the lease
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or rental agreement, for rent owed through the date of termination or the date the tenant actually
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vacates the premises, whichever is later.
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(e) A tenant who terminates a lease or rental agreement pursuant to this section shall be
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entitled to a refund of any security deposit in compliance with § 34-18-19 or prepaid rent for any
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period thereafter, so long as full possession is turned over to the landlord absent any damage. The
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tenant shall receive a full and specific statement of the basis for retaining any of the security deposit
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or prepaid rent together with any refund due in compliance with § 34-18-19 and within twenty (20)
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days of the conclusion of the tenancy.
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(f) A landlord who in good faith initiates an action against a remaining tenant, co-tenant or
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household member, or takes any other action under this section, shall not be subject to a claim of
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retaliation or any other claim under this chapter.
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34-18-64. Refusal of rental agreement or assistance based on termination of rental
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agreement under § 34-18-63 or request for change of lock under § 34-18-65 prohibited.
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A lessor or owner shall not refuse to enter into a rental agreement, nor shall a housing
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subsidy provider deny assistance, based on an applicant having terminated a rental agreement under
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§ 34-18-63 or based upon an applicant having requested a change of locks under § 34-18-65.
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34-18-65. Change of locks upon request of tenant or household member believed to
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be under imminent threat of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
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(a) For purposes of this section, the term "household member" means a person residing
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with the tenant or co-tenant as an authorized occupant of the premises, and who is eighteen (18)
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years of age or older or an emancipated minor.
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(b) A lessor or owner shall, upon the request of all tenants in possession, or furnishing of
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a court order, change the locks of the individual dwelling unit in which the tenant or household
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member lives if the tenant or household member reasonably believes that the tenant or household
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member is under an imminent threat of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking at the
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premises. A lessor or owner shall have the right to request, in good faith, written verification of the
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status as a victim of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, as provided in § 34-18-
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63.
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(c) If the threat of abuse, domestic abuse, violence, sexual assault or stalking is posed by a
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person who is a tenant or household member, the lessor or owner may change the locks and deny
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a key to the alleged perpetrator upon receipt of a request to change the locks; provided, however,
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that such request shall be accompanied by a copy of a valid protective order issued against a tenant
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or household member or other court order requiring change of locks.
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(d) A lessor or owner who has received notice of a request, in accordance with subsection
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(b) of this section, for change of locks shall, within two (2) business days, make a good faith effort
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to change the locks or give the tenant or household member permission to change the locks in a
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workman-like manner. If the lessor or owner changes the locks, the lessor or owner shall make a
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good faith effort to give a key to the new locks to the tenant or household member requesting the
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lock change as soon as possible, but within the same two (2) business day period. A lessor or owner
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may charge a fee for the expense of changing the locks. The fee shall not exceed the reasonable
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price customarily charged for changing such locks in that community.
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(e) If a lessor or owner fails to change the locks after receipt of a request, in accordance
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with subsection (b) of this section, within two (2) business days, the tenant or household member
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may change the locks without the owner's permission. The tenant or household member shall make
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a good faith effort to provide a key to the new locks to the lessor or owner within two (2) business
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days of the locks being changed. If a tenant or household member changes the locks without the
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owner's permission, such person shall change the locks in a workman-like manner with locks of
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similar or better quality than the original locks. A lessor or owner may replace a lock installed by
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the tenant or household member, or seek reimbursement for additional costs incurred, if the lessor
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or owner believes that the locks were not of equal or better quality or were not installed properly,
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and such action shall be deemed not to be in retaliation.
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(f) If the locks, are changed under this section, a tenant or household member shall not
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voluntarily give the new key to the perpetrator. A lessor or owner who refuses to provide a key to
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any person based on the reasonable belief that such person is the perpetrator of alleged abuse,
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domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, shall not be liable for such refusal.
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(g) A lessor or owner who takes action to prevent the tenant or household member who has
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complied with subsection (b) of this section from changing the locks, or any lessor or owner who
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changes the locks but fails to make a good faith effort to provide a key to the tenant or household
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member requesting the lock change as provided in subsection (d) of this section, shall be liable for
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the amount of two (2) months' rent and the costs of the action, including reasonable attorneys' fees,
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all of which may be applied in setoff or recoupment against any claim for rent owed or owing for
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use and occupancy. Damages shall not be imposed if the court determines that the lessor or owner
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acted in good faith.
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34-18-66. Jurisdiction of courts to restrain violations.
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The district court shall have jurisdiction in equity to restrain violations of §§ 34-18-63
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through 34-18-65, inclusive.
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34-18-67. Waivers of §§ 34-18-63 through 34-18-64 void and unenforceable.
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A waiver of §§ 34-18-63 through 34-18-65, shall be void and unenforceable.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT -- RHODE
ISLAND SURVIVOR EARLY LEASE TERMINATION ACT
***
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This act would grant tenants that are the victim of various forms of abuse including, but
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not limited to, sexual and domestic abuse and stalking, the right to terminate a lease agreement
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early without penalty or liability for rent. This act would also provide for requests to change locks.
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This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.
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