AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Allows sealing of eviction records for defective complaint or lack of jurisdiction for individuals between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21) who didn't sign the lease.)

S3163

2026 -- S 3163
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LC006154
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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) The court shall seal any minor named in an eviction proceeding, or any individual
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between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21) named in an eviction proceeding who did
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not execute the lease and has a familiar relationship with any tenant named in the eviction
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proceeding, and electronic docket entries related thereto. The sealing of an eviction record under
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this subsection shall not be counted when considering a moving party’s eligibility to request the
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sealing of one eviction record in five (5) years as set forth in this section.
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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, as well as for any minor named in an eviction proceeding or any individual
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between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21) who did not sign a lease and is named in an
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eviction proceeding. This act would allow the court to seal the record following the expiration of
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any appeal period. The sealing of an eviction record under this subsection shall not be counted
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when considering a moving party's eligibility to request the sealing of one eviction record in five
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(5) years.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC006154
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