AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Removes the five (5) year waiting period for filing a motion to seal an eviction court file. It also deletes the numerical limitation on filing seal requests.)

H7766

2026 -- H 7766
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LC005283
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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

Introduced By:
Representatives Cruz, Stewart, Felix, Morales, Giraldo, Batista, Furtado,
Shallcross Smith, Potter, and Cotter

Date Introduced:
February 12, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 34-18-60 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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34-18-60. Sealing and unsealing of court files.
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(a) Actions arising under §§ 34-18-35, 34-18-36, and 34-18-38 may be sealed by the court
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upon motion by any party or parties filed at least thirty (30) days after the expiration of the appeal
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period following the conclusion of the underlying civil action.
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(b) In ruling on the motion to seal, the court shall grant the motion and seal the record of
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the civil action upon a finding that the underlying civil action was dismissed as a result of a motion
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to dismiss, the action was resolved by stipulation and the terms of the stipulation have been satisfied
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by the parties, any monetary judgment against the moving party has been satisfied in full, or the
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action has been dismissed for lack of prosecution
after a five-year (5) period
. The court shall also
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make a finding that the moving party notified all parties to the underlying civil action of their
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motion to seal the record
and that motion is the only request made under this section by the moving
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party within the previous five (5) years
.
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(c) Any party to an action arising under §§ 34-18-35, 34-18-36, and 34-18-38 may file a
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motion to seal the record of the action upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth in subsections
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(a) and (b) of this section.
Parties requesting seal of their record under this section are limited to
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one request every five (5) years.

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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 -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT
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This act would remove the five (5) year waiting period for filing a motion to seal an eviction
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court file. It would also delete the numerical limitation on filing seal requests with the court.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005283
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