AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Requires landlords who rent shoreline property to provide their tenants, before the start of the tenancy, with a detailed, written disclosure regarding their shoreline access rights.)

H8110

2026 -- H 8110
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LC005380
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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 Cortvriend, Kazarian, Spears, and McGaw

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 34-18-20 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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34-18-20. Disclosure.
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(a) A landlord or any person authorized to enter into a rental agreement on his or her behalf
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shall disclose to the tenant in writing, at or before the commencement of the tenancy, the name,
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address and number of:
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(1) The person authorized to manage the premises; and
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(2) An owner of the premises or a person authorized to act for and on behalf of the owner
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for the purpose of service of process and receiving and receipting for notices and demands.
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(b) The information required to be furnished by this section shall be kept current. This
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section extends to and is enforceable against any successor landlord, owner, or manager.
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(c) A person who fails to comply with subsection (a) of this section becomes an agent of
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each person who is a landlord for:
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(1) Service of process and receiving and receipting for notices and demands; and
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(2) Performing the obligations of the landlord under this chapter and under the rental
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agreement and expending or making available for the purpose of all rent collected from the
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premises.
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(d) A landlord who becomes delinquent on a mortgage securing real estate upon which the
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dwelling unit is located for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days shall notify the tenant that

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the property may be subject to foreclosure; and until the foreclosure occurs the tenant must continue
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to pay rent to the landlord as provided under the rental agreement.
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(e)(1) For any dwelling unit that constitutes shoreline property as defined in § 5-20.8-1, the
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landlord shall provide the tenant, prior to the commencement of the tenancy, with a written
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shoreline access disclosure, which shall include the following information:
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(i) Shoreline Access – Members of the public shall have the right to access shoreline
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property as defined in § 5-20.8-1. The public’s rights and privileges of the shore may be exercised,
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where shore exists, on wet sand or dry sand or rocky beach, up to ten feet (10') landward of the
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recognizable high tide line, subject to the restrictions governed by § 46-23-26 and any general laws
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to the contrary;
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(ii) The landlord is required to notify the tenant of any public rights-of-way on the real
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estate that are known to the landlord. Upon request, the landlord shall provide the tenant with a
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copy of any documentation evidencing such rights-of-way or conditions of public access that is in
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the landlord’s possession; and
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(iii) The tenant is advised to contact the coastal resources management council, the
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municipality, or applicable nonprofit organizations to determine whether any public rights-of-way
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exist.
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(2) The disclosure required by this subsection may be satisfied by incorporating it into any
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written rental agreement or provided in a separate written notice delivered to the tenant in the
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manner prescribed for delivery of written notices pursuant to § 34-18-14.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005380
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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 require landlords who rent shoreline property to provide their tenants,
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before the start of the tenancy, with a detailed, written disclosure regarding public shoreline access
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rights.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005380
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