H7766 • 2026

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.)

Housing

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Cruz, Stewart, Felix, Morales, Giraldo, Batista, Furtado, Shallcross Smith, Potter, Cotter
Last action: 2026-03-18
Official status: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

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.)

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.

What This Bill Does

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.)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-03-18 Committee
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
2026-03-13 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2026)
2026-02-12 Rhode Island General Assembly
Introduced, referred to House Judiciary

Official Summary Text

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.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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
____________
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.

1
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
2
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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