AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE -- MANDATORY ARBITRATION PROVISION (Increases the minimum claim amount necessary to require a matter involving motor vehicle liability be submitted to mandatory arbitration.)

H8076

2026 -- H 8076
========
LC005143
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE -- MANDATORY
ARBITRATION PROVISION

Introduced By:
Representative Matthew S. Dawson

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 27-10.3-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-10.3 entitled "Motor
2
Vehicle Insurance — Mandatory Arbitration Provision" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3

27-10.3-1. Arbitration provision.
4
(a) Every contract of motor vehicle liability insurance, issued in the state by an insurance
5
carrier authorized to do business in the state, shall contain the following provisions:
6
(1) Any person, referred to in this section as “the plaintiff,” suffering a loss, allegedly
7
resulting out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle by an insured or self-insured,
8
and allegedly resulting from liability imposed by law for property damage, bodily injury, or death,
9
may, at the plaintiff's election, whenever the claim is for
fifty thousand dollars ($50,000)

one
10
hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)
or less, submit the matter to arbitration pursuant to chapter 3
11
of title 10;
12
(2)
Selection of arbitrator.
After submission to arbitration by the plaintiff, one arbitrator
13
shall be selected from the list of qualified arbitrators of the court annexed arbitration program of
14
the superior court in the same manner as arbitrators are selected in accordance with the rules of that
15
program. Each party shall share the expenses of arbitration in accordance with the rules of the court
16
annexed arbitration program;
17
(3)
Hearings.
The arbitrator shall call a hearing and provide seven (7) days’ notice of the
18
time and place of the hearing to the parties. The hearing shall be informal, and the rules of evidence

1
prevailing in judicial proceedings shall be binding. Any and all documentary evidence and other
2
data deemed relevant by the arbitrator may be received in evidence. The arbitrator shall have the
3
power to administer oaths and to require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses,
4
and the production of books, records, and other evidence, relative or pertinent to the issues
5
presented to them for determination. The decision of the arbitrator shall be binding upon the parties
6
unless:
7
(i) In the event that suit has not been instituted, either party reserves the party’s right to a
8
jury trial by giving notice of this reservation of right to the other party or parties and to the arbitrator
9
within sixty (60) days of the arbitrator’s award by certified mail return receipt requested; or
10
(ii) In the event that suit has been instituted, either party files a request for a jury trial with
11
the court and with notice to the other party or parties within sixty (60) days of the arbitrator’s award.
12
If the case proceeds to trial subsequent to arbitration, the decision of the arbitrator shall not be
13
admissible;
14
(4)
Statute of limitations.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a suit shall be instituted in order
15
to bring the action within any applicable statute of limitations, but the suit will be stayed until an
16
arbitrator’s award has been made or the case reached for trial;
17
(5)
Agreements to arbitrate.
Uninsured motorist contracts shall be governed by the
18
provisions of § 10-3-2.
19
(b) Every person who maintains motor vehicle liability insurance shall, when making an
20
application for a motor vehicle operator’s license, or the renewal of that license, or when registering
21
a motor vehicle, agree in writing on a form provided by the director of the department of
22
transportation to be bound by the provisions of this chapter.
23
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC005143
========

LC005143 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE -- MANDATORY
ARBITRATION PROVISION
***
1
This act would increase the minimum claim amount necessary to require a matter involving
2
motor vehicle liability be submitted to mandatory arbitration.
3
This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC005143
========

LC005143 - Page 3 of 3