2026 -- H 7852

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LC004927

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY -- CONDOMINIUM OWNERSHIP

     Introduced By: Representatives Voas, Serpa, and Caldwell

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 34-36-29 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-36 entitled

"Condominium Ownership" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     34-36-29. Insurance.

     (a) The manager, management committee, or association of unit owners, if required by the

declaration, bylaws, or by a majority of the unit owners, or at the request of a mortgagee having a

first mortgage of record covering a unit, shall have the authority to, and shall, obtain insurance for

the property against loss or damage by fire and other hazards under the terms and for amounts as

shall be required or requested. Insurance coverage shall be written on the property in the name of

the manager, management committee, or association of unit owners, as trustee for each of the unit

owners in the percentages established in the declaration. Premiums on insurance shall be common

expenses. Provision for insurance shall be without prejudice to the right of each unit owner to insure

his or her own unit for his or her benefit. Provided, however, a unit’s owners insurance policy shall

become the primary insurance policy with respect to any loss covered by the association’s policy

but not payable under the association’s policy because of the application of the deductible. The

provisions of § 34-36.1-3.13, as amended, shall apply.

     (b) In the event a unit owner sustains damage to their unit as a result of an event that is

covered under the insurance coverage purchased in accordance with subsection (a), then, upon

written request to the condominium association, the unit owner shall be entitled to a written copy

from the condominium association of the insurance company damage appraisal, or any damage

appraisal in regard to damage to the owner’s unit, within fourteen (14) calendar days of the date of

the unit owner’s request, or within fourteen (14) days of the association’s receipt of the damage

appraisal, whichever is later. If coverage for the damage to a unit is denied for any reason, or is

deemed to be valued below the policy deductible, then the unit owner shall also be entitled to

receive, from the association, a copy of the letter detailing the determination.

     SECTION 2. Sections 34-36.1-1.02 and 34-36.1-3.13 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-

36.1 entitled "Condominium Law" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     34-36.1-1.02. Applicability.

     (a)(1) This chapter applies to all condominiums created within this state after July 1, 1982,

except that any condominium created within this state prior to July 1, 1982, may voluntarily accept

the provisions of this chapter in lieu of the provisions under which it was originally organized.

Acceptance shall be evidenced by an agreement in writing executed by and in behalf of the

condominium association and by all of the owners of all of the individual condominium units within

the condominium, in which agreement it is clearly stated that they all accept the provisions of this

chapter in lieu of those in the statute under which the condominium was organized and wish to be

governed in the future by the provisions of this chapter. The agreement shall be recorded in the

land evidence records of each and every town or city where all or any part of the land in the

condominium concerned may be located and shall become effective when first so recorded. The

acceptance shall only apply to the governance of the condominium concerned as to all matters

which are prospective or executory in nature; and nothing herein shall be deemed to abrogate,

amend, limit, effect, or impair the continued effectiveness, legality, or validity of all actions

lawfully taken by or in behalf of the condominium prior to the effective date of the acceptance,

including, but without limitation, the condominium declaration and all amendments thereto, the by-

laws of the condominium and/or of its association, all deeds, mortgages, leases, and any further

documents affecting the titles or rights of unit owners, or of the condominium or the prior lawful

acts or deeds of any kind, of the condominium association, its officers, directors, or members.

     (2) Sections 34-36.1-1.05 (separate titles and taxation), 34-36.1-1.06 (applicability of local

ordinances, regulations, and building codes), 34-36.1-1.07 (eminent domain), 34-36.1-2.03

(construction and validity of declaration and bylaws), 34-36.1-2.04 (description of units), 34-36.1-

2.19(b) (mortgage approval), 34-36.1-3.02(a)(1) — (6) and (11) — (17) (powers of unit owners’

association), 34-36.1-3.06(c) — (d) (bylaws), 34-36.1-3.08 (meetings and notice), 34-36.1-3.11

(tort and contract liability), 34-36.1-3.13(d) and (k) (unit owner responsibility for master policy

deductibles) (insurance), 34-36.1-3.16 (lien for assessments), 34-36.1-3.18 (association records),

34-36.1-4.09 (resale of units), and 34-36.1-4.17 (effect of violation on rights of action; attorney’s

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fees), § 34-36.1-3.20 (enforcement of declaration, bylaws and rules), and 34-36.1-1.03

(definitions), to the extent necessary in construing any of those sections, apply to all condominiums

created in this state before July 1, 1982; but those sections apply only with respect to events and

circumstances occurring after July 1, 1982, and do not invalidate existing provisions of the

declaration, bylaws, plats, or plans of those condominiums.

     (3) A condominium created as an additional phase by amendment of a condominium

created prior to July 1, 1982, if the original declaration contemplated the amendment, shall be

deemed to be a condominium created prior to July 1, 1982; provided, however, the provisions of

subdivision (a)(2) shall apply as defined therein.

     (4) Section 34-36.1-3.21 (foreclosure of condominium lien) applies, with respect to all

condominiums created in this state prior to June 19, 1991, only with respect to events and

circumstances occurring after June 18, 1991, does not invalidate existing provisions of the

declarations, bylaws, plats, or plans of those condominiums, and applies in all respects to all

condominiums created in this state after June 18, 1991.

     (b) The provisions of the Condominium Ownership Act, chapter 36 of this title, do not

apply to condominiums created after July 1, 1982, and do not invalidate any amendment to the

declaration, bylaws, plats, and plans of any condominium created before July 1, 1982, if the

amendment would be permitted by this chapter. The amendment must be adopted in conformity

with the procedures and requirements specified by those instruments and by chapter 36 of this title.

If the amendment grants to any person any rights, powers, or privileges permitted by this chapter,

all correlative obligations, liabilities, and restrictions in this chapter also apply to that person.

     (c) This chapter does not apply to condominiums or units located outside this state, but the

public offering statement provisions (§§ 34-36.1-4.02 — 34-36.1-4.07) apply to all contracts for

the disposition thereof signed in this state by any party unless exempt under § 34-36.1-4.01(b).

     34-36.1-3.13. Insurance.

     (a) Commencing not later than the time of the first conveyance of a unit to a person other

than a declarant, the association shall maintain, at a minimum, to the extent reasonably available:

     (1) Property insurance on the common elements insuring against all risks of direct, physical

loss commonly insured against or, in the case of a conversion building, against fire and extended

coverage perils. The association shall also maintain insurance on the units as originally built or on

the units including improvements and betterments added by unit owners if required in the

declaration or bylaws. The total amount of insurance after application of any deductibles shall be

not less than eighty percent (80%) of the actual cash value of the insured property at the time the

insurance is purchased and at each renewal date, exclusive of land, excavations, foundations, and

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other items normally excluded from property policies; and

     (2) Liability insurance, including medical payments insurance, in an amount determined

by the executive board, but not less than any amount specified in the declaration, covering all

occurrences commonly insured against for death, bodily injury, and property damage arising out

of, or in connection with, the use, ownership, or maintenance of the common elements and any

property owned or leased by the association.

     (b) In the case of a building containing units having horizontal boundaries described in the

declaration, the insurance maintained under subdivision (a)(1), to the extent reasonably available,

shall include the units, but need not include improvements and betterments installed by unit owners.

     (c) If the insurance described in subsections (a) and (b) is not reasonably available, the

association promptly shall cause notice of that fact to be hand delivered or sent prepaid by United

States mail to all unit owners. The declaration may require the association to carry any other

insurance, and the association in any event may carry any other insurance it deems appropriate to

protect the association or the unit owners.

     (d) Insurance policies carried pursuant to subsection (a) must provide that:

     (1) Each unit owner is an insured person under the policy with respect to liability arising

out of the owner’s interest in the common elements or membership in the association;

     (2) The insurer waives its right to subrogation under the policy against any unit owner or

member of the owner’s household;

     (3) No act or omission by any unit owner, unless acting within the scope of his or her

authority on behalf of the association, will void the policy or be a condition to recovery under the

policy; and

     (4) If, at the time of a loss under the policy, there is other insurance in the name of a unit

owner covering the same risk covered by the policy, the association’s policy provides primary

insurance. Provided, however, a unit owner’s insurance policy shall become the primary insurance

policy with respect to any amount of loss to their unit covered by the association’s policy but not

payable under the association’s policy because of the application of the deductible. If a unit owner

fails to comply with obligations pursuant to subsection (k) of this section, the unit owner shall have

the obligation for expenses related to the owner’s unit after a unit loss in the amount of the

deductible of the association property insurance applicable to the unit. The association shall provide

written notice to the unit owners setting forth the amount of deductible for the association property

insurance for their units at least thirty (30) days after notice to the association by the insurance

carrier of any change in the association property insurance deductible. The notice shall include a

statement asserting the unit owner’s legal obligation to notify its mortgagee of the change in any

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deductible.

     (i) If the covered loss is solely to the common elements, the amount of the loss up to the

association’s deductible amount and any amount remaining unpaid after the payment(s) from the

association’s policy, shall be a common expense.

     (ii) If the covered loss is solely to one unit and there is one singular deductible for the

association’s policy applicable to such loss, the amount of the loss up to the association’s deductible

amount and any amount remaining unpaid after the payment(s) from the association’s policy, shall

be the responsibility of the owner of said unit.

     (iii) If the covered loss is to one or more units and there is a ‘per unit’ deductible applicable

to such loss, the amount of the loss up to the association’s per unit deductible amount assigned to

each unit and any amount remaining unpaid after the payment(s) from the association’s policy for

damage sustained to that unit, shall be the responsibility of the owner of said unit(s).

     (iv) In the event that there is a covered loss to more than one unit or a covered loss to a

unit(s) and the common elements and there is one singular deductible for the association’s policy

applicable to such loss, the association’s policy deductible shall be apportioned to and borne by the

unit(s) and the association, if applicable, in the same proportion as applies to the amount of the

damages to or among such units and the common elements with respect to such loss and any

amounts remaining unpaid after the payment(s) from the association’s policy for damage sustained

to that unit or common elements, shall be the responsibility of the owner of said unit(s),

respectively, and a common expense with respect to the common elements.

     (v) In the event that there is a covered loss to one or more units and a covered loss to the

common elements, and there is a “per unit” deductible and “per occurrence” deductible for the

association’s policy applicable to such loss, the amount of the loss up to the association’s per unit

deductible amount assigned to each unit and any amount remaining unpaid for those unit(s) after

the payment(s) from the association’s policy for damage sustained to that unit, shall be the

responsibility of the owner of said unit(s) and the amount of the loss up to the association’s per

occurrence deductible amount and any amount remaining unpaid for the common elements after

the payment(s) from the association’s policy shall be a common expense.

     (e) Any loss covered by the property policy under subdivision (a)(1) and subsection (b)

must be adjusted with the association, but the insurance proceeds for that loss are payable to any

insurance trustee designated for that purpose, or otherwise to the association, and not to any

mortgagee or beneficiary under a deed of trust. The insurance trustee or the association shall hold

any insurance proceeds in trust for unit owners and lien holders as their interests may appear.

Subject to the provisions of subsection (h), the proceeds must be disbursed first for the repair or

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restoration of the damaged property, and unit owners and lien holders are not entitled to receive

payment of any portion of the proceeds unless there is a surplus of proceeds after the property has

been completed, repaired or restored, or the condominium is terminated.

     (f) An insurance policy issued to the association does not prevent a unit owner from

obtaining insurance for his or her own benefit.

     (g) An insurer that has issued an insurance policy under this section shall issue certificates

or memoranda of insurance to the association and, upon written request, to any unit owner,

mortgagee, or beneficiary under a deed of trust. The insurer issuing the policy may not cancel or

refuse to renew it until thirty (30) days after notice of the proposed cancellation or nonrenewal has

been mailed to the association, each unit owner, and each mortgagee or beneficiary under a deed

of trust to whom a certificate or memorandum of insurance has been issued at their respective last

known addresses.

     (h) Any portion of the condominium for which insurance is required under this section that

is damaged or destroyed shall be repaired or replaced promptly by the association unless: (1) The

condominium is terminated The loss is solely to a unit(s) and the amount of the loss does not

exceed the association’s policy deductible; (2) Repair or replacement would be illegal under any

state or local health or safety statute or ordinance The condominium is terminated; or (3) Eighty

percent (80%) of the unit owners, including every owner of a unit or assigned, limited common

element that will not be rebuilt, vote not to rebuild unless insurance proceeds are adequate to rebuild

Repair or replacement would be illegal under any state or local health or safety statute or ordinance;

or (4) Eighty percent (80%) of the unit owners, including every owner of a unit or assigned, limited

common element that will not be rebuilt, vote not to rebuild unless insurance proceeds are adequate

to rebuild. The cost of repair or replacement in excess of insurance proceeds, after the application

of the association’s policy deductible, is a common expense, unless the declaration or bylaws

provide otherwise. In the event of a loss where there is coverage and insurance proceeds from both

the unit owner’s policy and the association’s policy, the repair or replacement of any damaged or

destroyed portion of the condominium shall be carried out as the governing board shall determine.

The governing board shall use and disburse the applicable insurance proceeds, to carry out any

repairs to the common elements and the unit(s) upon reasonable terms and conditions aligned with

the progress of repairs. In lieu of the distribution of the insurance proceeds to the unit owner(s),

the governing board, may carry out the repairs or reconstruction of the unit(s). If the entire

condominium is not repaired or replaced, (1) The insurance proceeds attributable to the damaged

common elements must be used to restore the damaged area to a condition compatible with the

remainder of the condominium; (2) The insurance proceeds attributable to units and limited

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common elements that are not rebuilt must be distributed to the owners of those units and the

owners of the units to which those limited common elements were allocated, or to lienholders, as

their interests may appear; and (3) The remainder of the proceeds must be distributed to all the unit

owners or lienholders, as their interests may appear, in proportion to the common element interests

of all the units. If the unit owners vote not to rebuild any unit, that unit’s allocated interests are

automatically reallocated upon the vote as if the unit had been condemned under § 34-36.1-1.07(a)

and the association promptly shall prepare, execute, and record an amendment to the declaration

reflecting the reallocations. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, § 34-36.1-2.18

governs the distribution of insurance proceeds if the condominium is terminated.

     (i) In the event a unit owner sustains damage to the owner’s unit as a result of an event that

is covered under the insurance coverage purchased in accordance with this section, then upon

written request to the condominium association, the unit owner shall be entitled to a written copy

from the condominium association of the insurance company damage appraisal or any damage

appraisal in regard to damage to the owner’s unit, within fourteen (14) calendar days of the date of

the unit owner’s request, or within fourteen (14) days of the association’s receipt of the damage

appraisal, whichever is later. If coverage for the damage to a unit is denied for any reason or is

deemed to be valued below the policy deductible, then the unit owner shall also be entitled to

receive, from the association, a copy of the letter detailing the determination.

     (j) The provisions of this section may be varied or waived in the case of a condominium

all of whose units are restricted to nonresidential use.

     (k) If the association maintains property insurance on the units, unit owners shall maintain,

to the extent reasonably available, the following insurance:

     (1) Property insurance for improvements and betterments installed in their units after the

first conveyances of the units to persons other than a declarant, if the association does not maintain

such coverage.

     (2) Insurance for any amount of loss covered by the association property insurance policy

but not payable under the association property insurance policy because of the application of the

deductible. There shall be no obligation on an association to apply common expenses related to a

unit after a unit loss if the unit owner fails to comply with this section.

     (l) If the association does not maintain property insurance on the units, unit owners shall

maintain property insurance on their units as defined in the association’s declaration and/or bylaws.

There shall be no obligation on an association to apply common expenses related to a unit after a

unit loss if the unit owner fails to comply with this section.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY -- CONDOMINIUM OWNERSHIP

***

     This act would clarify how condominium insurance deductibles and unpaid losses are

divided between associations and unit owners, require owners to insure units if associations do not,

and allow boards to manage and use insurance proceeds for repairs.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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