2025 -- H 5959

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LC002114

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY -- PUBLIC AUCTIONS BY ELECTRONIC OR REMOTE

PROCEDURES

     Introduced By: Representatives Lima, and Cruz

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2025

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     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 estate.

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

or purpose 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 estate or an interest therein shall be done by electronic or

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

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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LC002114

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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 unless authorized by

court order.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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