| R 394 |
| 2024 -- H 8368 Enacted 06/14/2024 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO UPDATE AND CLARIFY THE "RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT" |
Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Cruz, and Stewart |
| Date Introduced: June 14, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, Rental agreements are verbal or written contracts between landlords and |
| tenants; and |
| WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, the rights and responsibilities of the landlord-tenant |
| relationship is based on Rhode Island General Law (RIGL) Chapter 34-18, entitled the |
| "Residential Landlord and Tenant Act"; and |
| WHEREAS, Understanding the intricacies of landlord-tenant interactions can be |
| complex, as both sides frequently encounter a range of obstacles. Multiple landlord tenant |
| disputes have arisen including housing discrimination, maintenance dilemmas, late payments, |
| termination of tenancy, and security deposits, to name but a few; and |
| WHEREAS, The need to examine, simplify, clarify, and modernize legal language |
| relating to the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in dwelling unit rental situations has |
| become a growing concern to many Rhode Islanders; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| consisting of eleven (11) members: all of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House, |
| three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, two (2) from the Majority |
| Party, and one from the Minority Party, and one of whom shall be a retired Judge. |
| In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study |
| commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing |
| authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide |
| recommendations to update and clarify the "Residential Landlord and Tenant Act" and any |
| additional issues the commission deems necessary to address pertaining to the landlord-tenant |
| relationship. |
| Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
| the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson. |
| Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. |
| The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. |
| All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, |
| documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or |
| desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. |
| The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters |
| for said commission; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the |
| House of Representatives no later than May 5, 2025, and said commission shall expire on June 5, |
| 2025. |
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| LC006269 |
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