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S3163A
2026 -- S 3163 SUBSTITUTE A
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LC006154/SUB A
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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:
Senators Mack, and LaMountain
Date Introduced:
March 27, 2026
Referred To:
Senate 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.
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(d) In ruling on a motion to seal when a civil action is dismissed for either a defective
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complaint and/or lack of jurisdiction of the court, the court shall grant the motion and seal the
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record, however, the sealing of an eviction record under this subsection shall not be counted when
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considering a moving party’s eligibility to request the sealing of one eviction record in five (5)
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years as set forth in this section.
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(e) The court shall seal the record, following the expiration of any appeal period, when a
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tenant prevails following a hearing or trial before the court, however, the sealing of an eviction
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record under this subsection shall not be counted when considering a moving party’s eligibility to
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request the sealing of one eviction record in five (5) years as set forth in this section.
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(f)(1) Upon motion of a person who was between eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21) years
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of age at the time an eviction action was commenced, the court may order the sealing of that
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person's association with the eviction record if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence
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that:
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(i) The person was not a party to any lease, rental agreement, or other contractual obligation
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for payment of rent;
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(ii) The person was not financially responsible for rent, occupancy charges, or other
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obligations arising from the tenancy; and
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(iii) The person was named in the eviction action solely because the person resided at the
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premises and applicable law required all adult occupants to be named in the proceeding.
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(2) For purposes of this subsection, "dependent" means an individual who was principally
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supported by a parent, guardian, or other tenant of record and who did not assume financial
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responsibility for the tenancy.
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(3) An order entered pursuant to this subsection shall seal only the eligible individual's
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association with the eviction action and shall not seal, expunge, or otherwise restrict public access
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to the underlying court file, docket, judgment, or orders.
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(4) Nothing in this subsection shall impair, limit, delay, or otherwise affect the validity,
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collection, execution, recording, or enforcement of any judgment entered in the action.
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(5) No order shall issue under this subsection unless the judiciary has established a
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mechanism capable of sealing only the eligible individual's association with the eviction action
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without sealing the underlying case record.
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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 allow for the sealing of an eviction record for a defective complaint and/or
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lack of jurisdiction and would, upon motion of a person between eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21)
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years of age, seal a person's association with an eviction under certain circumstances.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC006154/SUB A - Page 3 of 2