2024 -- H 8368

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LC006269

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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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

     Referred To: House read and passed

     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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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

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"

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     This resolution would create an eleven (11) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be make a comprehensive study and provide recommendations to update

and clarify the "Residential Landlord and Tenant Act", and who would report back to the House

no later than May 5, 2025, and whose life would expire on June 5, 2025.

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LC006269

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