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S2135 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- BY POSSESSION AND PRESCRIPTION (Repeals the provisions of § 34-7-4 regarding rights of footway being acquired by adverse possession.)

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- BY POSSESSION AND PRESCRIPTION (Repeals the provisions of § 34-7-4 regarding rights of footway being acquired by adverse possession.)

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Gu, LaMountain, DiMario, McKenney, Burke, Bissaillon, Quezada
Last action
2026-03-03
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 -- BY POSSESSION AND PRESCRIPTION (Repeals the provisions of § 34-7-4 regarding rights of footway being acquired by adverse possession.)

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- BY POSSESSION AND PRESCRIPTION (Repeals the provisions of § 34-7-4 regarding rights of footway being acquired by adverse possession.)

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- BY POSSESSION AND PRESCRIPTION (Repeals the provisions of § 34-7-4 regarding rights of footway being acquired by adverse possession.)

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

  1. 2026-03-03 Committee

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  2. 2026-02-27 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/03/2026)

  3. 2026-01-16 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- BY POSSESSION AND PRESCRIPTION (Repeals the provisions of § 34-7-4 regarding rights of footway being acquired by adverse possession.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S2135

2026 -- S 2135
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LC004192
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- BY POSSESSION AND PRESCRIPTION

Introduced By:
Senators Gu, LaMountain, DiMario, McKenney, Burke, Bissaillon, and
Quezada

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 34-7-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-7 entitled "By Possession
2
and Prescription" is hereby repealed.
3

34-7-4. Right of footway denied.
4

No right of footway, except claimed in connection with a right to pass with carriages, shall
5
be acquired by prescription or adverse use for any length of time.
6
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004192
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- BY POSSESSION AND PRESCRIPTION
***
1
This act would repeal the provisions of § 34-7-4 which provides that no right of footway,
2
except claimed in connection with a right to pass with carriages, could be acquired by prescription
3
or adverse use for any length of time. This act would effectively eliminate the statutory prohibition
4
against acquiring a right of footway by adverse possession.
5
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004192
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