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SB 2305

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Bissaillon and 4 co-sponsors

The bill eases eviction record sealing by removing the five-year wait and cap, letting more requests be filed sooner after dismissal or resolution.

04/28/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2305

Summary of SB 2305 (Rhode Island, 2026) – Relating to Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Purpose and intent

  • This bill proposes removing certain barriers to sealing eviction-related court records and eliminating a numerical cap on seal requests. The overall aim is to provide tenants and others relief by allowing easier sealing of eviction court files under specific conditions.

Key provisions and changes

  • Scope of sealable actions (unchanged categories): The bill concerns actions arising under sections 34-18-35, 34-18-36, and 34-18-38 of the Rhode Island Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. (Exact topics of those sections are not detailed in the bill text provided, but they pertain to eviction-related proceedings.)

  • Removal of the five-year waiting period:

    • Currently, sealing an eviction court file requires a motion to seal to be filed at least 30 days after the expiration of the appeal period, and there is a requirement that the party has waited five years since the underlying action (or has satisfied certain conditions) before sealing.
    • The act would remove the five-year waiting period for filing a motion to seal an eviction court file.

  • Elimination of the numerical cap on seal requests:

    • The bill repeals any existing numerical limitation on how many times a party may file to seal such records, effectively allowing multiple seal requests without a five-year interval.

  • Conditions for sealing (existing criteria retained):

    • The court shall seal the record upon finding that:
    • The underlying civil action was dismissed due to a motion to dismiss, was resolved by stipulation with terms satisfied, any monetary judgment against the moving party has been fully satisfied, or the action was dismissed for lack of prosecution after a five-year period (note: the bill’s language appears to change or remove the five-year waiting in some places; the Explanation notes removal of five-year waiting for filing, but the statutory text in subsections (b) still references five years as a condition, creating potential drafting ambiguity).
    • The moving party must have notified all parties to the underlying civil action of the motion to seal.
    • The motion to seal must be the moving party’s only seal-related request within the previous five years (as currently stated in the text).

  • Procedural timing:

    • Sealing motions can be filed at least 30 days after the expiration of the appeal period following the conclusion of the underlying civil action (same as current timing for filing a seal motion).

Who would be affected

  • Individuals with eviction-related court records: Tenants and others who seek to seal eviction records to potentially improve housing opportunities or reduce stigma.
  • Potentially impacted parties to eviction actions: Other parties involved in the underlying action may be affected by the ability to seal records more readily.
  • Courts and landlords: The judiciary administers sealing motions; landlords may encounter sealed records in future proceedings or background checks.

Significant procedural or timeline aspects

  • Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.
  • Sealing process changes:
    • The bill explicitly targets removing the five-year waiting period and removing the numerical cap on seal requests, broadening access to sealing.
    • The remaining criteria for sealing (dismissal reasons, satisfaction of stipulations or judgments, lack of prosecution) remain in place, but there is potential drafting tension between the textual requirements and the Explanatory note that states the five-year waiting period would be removed.

Practical considerations

  • If implemented as intended, individuals could seek removal of eviction records sooner and more flexibly, potentially improving access to housing and reducing barriers tied to eviction history.
  • The potential inconsistency between sections (text references to a five-year period vs. explanatory note removing the five-year barrier) may require clarification or amendment during further committee review.

Status

  • Introduced January 23, 2026; referred to Senate Judiciary.
  • Committee recommended measure be held for further study (April 28, 2026).

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to current Rhode Island sealing provisions or draft a side-by-side impact matrix for tenants, landlords, and eviction records.

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

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