AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- FAIR CHANCE IN HOUSING CREDIT REPORTS ACT (Establishes the fair chance in housing credit reports act to provide standards for which a credit report can be used in considering a rental application.)

H7762

2026 -- H 7762
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LC004787
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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 -- FAIR CHANCE IN HOUSING CREDIT REPORTS ACT

Introduced By:
Representatives Giraldo, Cruz, Alzate, Stewart, Felix, Tanzi, Potter,
Kislak, Handy, and Sanchez

Date Introduced:
February 12, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
(Lieutenant Governor)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 34 of the General Laws entitled "PROPERTY" is hereby amended by
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adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 18.3
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FAIR CHANCE IN HOUSING CREDIT REPORTS ACT
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34-18.3-1. Short title.
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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Fair Chance in Housing Credit
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Reports Act”.
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34-18.3-2. Definitions.
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For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
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(1) "Applicant" means any person considered for or who requests to be considered for
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tenancy within a rental dwelling unit.
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(2) "Conditional offer" means an offer to rent or lease a rental dwelling unit to an applicant
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that is contingent on a subsequent inquiry into the applicant’s criminal record, or any other
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eligibility criteria that the housing provider may lawfully utilize.
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(3) "Housing provider" means a landlord, an owner, lessor, sublessor, assignee, or their
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agent, or any other person receiving or entitled to receive rents or benefits for the use or occupancy
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of any rental dwelling unit.
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(4) "Rental dwelling unit" means a dwelling unit offered for rent by a housing provider for
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residential purposes, other than a dwelling unit in an owner-occupied premises of not more than

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three (3) dwelling units.
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34-18.3-3. Consideration of rental applications -- Credit history -- Denial notice.
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(a) If a landlord uses credit history as criteria in consideration of a rental application, the
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landlord shall not consider any credit history beyond three (3) years immediately preceding the date
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of the application.
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(b) If a landlord denies a rental application based upon credit history from within the three
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(3) years immediately preceding the date of the application, the landlord shall provide the
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prospective tenant a written notice of the denial that states the reason for denial. The landlord shall
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make a good-faith effort to do so not more than twenty (20) calendar days after making the decision
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to deny the prospective tenant's rental application.
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34-18.3-4. Civil liability.
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(a) A person claiming to be aggrieved pursuant to § 34-18.3-3 may file a complaint with
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the Rhode Island commission for human rights pursuant to chapter 37 of title 34.
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(b) Any housing provider who violates this chapter shall be liable for a civil penalty in an
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amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the first violation, five thousand dollars
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($5,000) for the second violation, and ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each subsequent violation
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collectible by the attorney general.
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(c) The Rhode Island commission for human rights is empowered and directed to prevent
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any person from violating any of the provisions of § 34-18.3-3; provided that, before instituting a
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formal hearing it shall attempt by informal methods of conference, persuasion, and conciliation, to
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induce compliance with that section. Upon the commission's own initiative or whenever an
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aggrieved individual or an organization chartered for the purpose of combating discrimination or
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of safeguarding civil liberties or rights of persons, the individual or organization, hereinafter
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referred to as the "complainant", makes a charge to the commission that any person, agency, bureau,
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corporation or association, hereinafter referred to as the "respondent", has violated or is violating
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any of the provisions of § 34-18.3-3, the commission may proceed in the same manner and with
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the same powers as provided in §§ 34-37-5 and 34-37-6.
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34-18.3-5. Unlawful acts by housing providers -- Retaliation prohibited.
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It shall be unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the
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exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of the person having exercised or enjoyed, or on account
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of the person having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any
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right granted or protected by this chapter. No housing provider under this chapter or any agent of
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that individual shall discriminate in any manner against any person because the person has opposed
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any practice forbidden by this chapter, or because the person has made a charge, testified, or

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assisted in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this chapter.
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34-18.3-6. Severability.
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If any portion of this law is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unlawful, such
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finding shall not affect any other portion of said law not specifically so found.
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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 PROPERTY -- FAIR CHANCE IN HOUSING CREDIT REPORTS ACT
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This act would establish the fair chance in housing credit reports act to provide standards
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for which a credit report can be used in considering a rental application.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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