| Chapter 362 |
| 2023 -- S 0912 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED Enacted 06/27/2023 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT |
Introduced By: Senators Mack, Kallman, LaMountain, McKenney, Euer, and Acosta |
| Date Introduced: March 30, 2023 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Chapter 34-18 of the General Laws entitled "Residential Landlord and Tenant |
| Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 34-18-5860. Sealing and unsealing of court files. |
| (a) Actions arising under §§ 34-18-35, 34-18-36, and 34-18-38 may be sealed by the court |
| upon motion by any party or parties filed at least thirty (30) days after the expiration of the appeal |
| period following the conclusion of the underlying civil action. |
| (b) In ruling on the motion to seal, the court shall grant the motion and seal the record of |
| the civil action upon a finding that the underlying civil action was dismissed as a result of a motion |
| to dismiss, the action was resolved by stipulation and the terms of the stipulation have been satisfied |
| by the parties, any monetary judgment against the moving party has been satisfied in full, or the |
| action has been dismissed for lack of prosecution after a five-(5)year (5) period. The court shall |
| also make a finding that the moving party notified all parties to the underlying civil action of their |
| motion to seal the record and that motion is the only request made under this section by the moving |
| party within the previous five (5) years. |
| (c) Any party to an action arising under §§ 34-18-35, 34-18-36, and 34-18-38 may file a |
| motion to seal the record of the action upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth in subsections |
| (a) and (b) of this section. Parties requesting seal of their record under this section are limited to |
| one request every five (5) years. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2024. |
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| LC000696/SUB A |
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