2024 -- S 3038

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LC006009

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY -- PUBLIC AUCTIONS BY ELECTRONIC OR REMOTE

PROCEDURES

     Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Ciccone, Zurier, Mack, Bissaillon, and Miller

     Date Introduced: May 02, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 34 of the General Laws entitled "PROPERTY" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 50

PUBLIC AUCTIONS BY ELECTRONIC OR REMOTE PROCEDURES

     34-50-1. Public auctions of real state.

     (a) Public auctions by any city or town of real state or an interest therein for any reason or

purpose, including, but not limited to, tax sales shall only be done in person at the time and place

specified in the legal advertisement, and in accordance with Rhode Island statutes that govern said

sales.

     (b) No public auction of real state or an interest therein shall be done by electronic or

remote procedures unless authorized by court order of the Rhode Island superior court after hearing

thereon and a finding that an in-person auction is not feasible under the circumstances of the

specific case.

     (c) The purpose of this section is to bring greater public scrutiny to the public auction sales

of real estate in Rhode Island.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC006009

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY -- PUBLIC AUCTIONS BY ELECTRONIC OR REMOTE

PROCEDURES

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     This act would require public auctions by any city or town of real estate or an interest

therein to only be done in person and not by electronic or remote procedures.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC006009

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