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SB 317

AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Frank Ciccone

Rhode Island updates civil court filing fees through SB 317, effective June 18, 2025, adjusting cost structures for court access without specified details on increases or decreases.

06/18/2025 Effective without Governor's signature
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Bill Summary · SB 317

Legislative bill overview

SB 317 modifies court filing fees and procedures in Rhode Island's civil court system. The bill adjusts fee structures for various court filings to update existing fee schedules that may not have been revised in several years.

Why is this important

Court fees directly impact access to justice by affecting the cost burden on individuals and small businesses seeking legal remedies. Fee changes can either expand or restrict public access to the court system depending on whether fees increase or decrease and how they're structured.

Potential points of contention

  • Fee increase impact on low-income litigants: If fees increased, this could create barriers for economically disadvantaged individuals trying to access courts, though fee waivers may mitigate this concern
  • Lack of detailed legislative history: The bill summary provided does not specify which fees changed, by how much, or the justification, making it difficult to assess whether adjustments are reasonable
  • Court funding vs. access balance: Fee increases generate revenue for courts but must be weighed against the constitutional principle of meaningful access to the judicial system

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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