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S2391 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- PUBLIC AUCTIONS OF REAL ESTATE (Requires public auctions by any city or town of real estate or an interest therein to only be done in person and not by electronic or remote procedures unless authorized by court order.)

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- PUBLIC AUCTIONS OF REAL ESTATE (Requires public auctions by any city or town of real estate or an interest therein to only be done in person and not by electronic or remote procedures unless authorized by court order.)

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Patalano, Dimitri, Ciccone, LaMountain, Tikoian, Famiglietti, Quezada, Appollonio, Thompson, Raptakis
Last action
2026-04-16
Official status
Committee recommends passage
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-16 Committee

    Committee recommends passage

  2. 2026-04-10 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for consideration (04/16/2026)

  3. 2026-03-03 Committee

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  4. 2026-02-27 Rhode Island General Assembly

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

  5. 2026-01-30 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- PUBLIC AUCTIONS OF REAL ESTATE (Requires public auctions by any city or town of real estate or an interest therein to only be done in person and not by electronic or remote procedures unless authorized by court order.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S2391

2026 -- S 2391
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LC004320
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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 -- PUBLIC AUCTIONS OF REAL ESTATE

Introduced By:
Senators Patalano, Dimitri, Ciccone, LaMountain, Tikoian, Famiglietti,
Quezada, Appollonio, Thompson, and Raptakis

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Purpose
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The purpose of this act is to bring greater public scrutiny to the public auction sales of real
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estate in Rhode Island.
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SECTION 2. Title 34 of the General Laws entitled "PROPERTY" is hereby amended by
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adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 51
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PUBLIC AUCTIONS OF REAL ESTATE
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34-51-1. Public auctions of real estate.

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(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, public auctions by any city or town
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of real estate or an interest therein shall only be done in person at the time and place specified in
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the legal advertisement, and in accordance with Rhode Island statutes that govern said sales, to
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include, but not be limited to, the provisions of chapter 9 of title 44.
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(b) No public auction of real estate or an interest therein shall be done by electronic or
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remote procedures unless authorized by court order of the Rhode Island superior court, after hearing
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thereon and a finding that an in-person auction is not feasible under the circumstances of the
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specific case.

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SECTION 3. 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 -- PUBLIC AUCTIONS OF REAL ESTATE
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This act would require public auctions by any city or town of real estate or an interest
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therein to only be done in person and not by electronic or remote procedures unless authorized by
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court order.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004320
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LC004320 - Page 3 of 3