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SB 2893

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

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Dimitri and 3 co-sponsors

Rhode Island SB 2893 imposes a statewide rental registry for pre-1978 homes to enforce lead safety, with penalties for landlords and potential public, limited data access.

04/30/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2893

Summary of SB 2893 (2026) – Rhode Island

Purpose and Intent

  • Introduces a statewide mandatory rental registry focused on residential properties built before 1978.
  • The registry is tied to lead safety and lead hazard mitigation enforcement under state and federal law.
  • Aims to improve lead safety compliance while creating a mechanism (a restricted receipt account) to fund enforcement, mitigation, and related activities.

Key Provisions

Registry Requirements (Residential Properties Pre-1978)

  • Landlords must register with the Rhode Island Department of Health (DOH) information including:
    • Names of individuals or business entities responsible for leasing.
    • Active business address, PO box, or home address.
    • Active email address.
    • Active telephone number for tenant communications.
    • Information about property managers, management companies, or agents (including addresses, emails, and phone numbers for each dwelling unit).
    • Information necessary to identify each dwelling unit.
  • For units not exempt from lead hazard mitigation requirements (42 C.F.R. Chapter 128.1 / Rhode Island’s lead rules), landlords must also provide:
    • A valid certificate of conformance (per lead hazard mitigation rules) or evidence showing exemption.

Public Database (Contingent on Funding)

  • If funding is available, the DOH (or designee) will create a publicly accessible online database containing:
    • Subset of information from the registry: (a)(1) landlord/entity name, (a)(5)(i)&(ii) contact for property managers/agents.
    • Excludes substantial personal data: (a)(2)-(a)(4), (a)(5) and (b) information.
  • Public database timeline: within 9 months after effective date (the text notes effective date as June 20, 2023, though the act’s overall effective date is upon passage).

Initial and Ongoing Registration Deadlines

  • As of September 1, 2024: Landlords must register under subsections (a) and (b) by October 1, 2024.
  • After September 1, 2024: Landlords acquiring pre-1978 properties or starting leases after this date must register within 30 days of acquisition/lease.
  • Annual re-registration due by October 1 each year to update or confirm information.

Penalties and Enforcement

  • Civil fines for noncompliance:
    • At least $50 per month for failure to register information under subsection (a).
    • At least $125 per month for failure to register information under subsection (b).
  • Penalties payable to DOH; funds go into a restricted “rental registry account” used to administer the registry and lead hazard activities.
  • No penalties may be imposed before October 1, 2024.

Eviction and Enforcement Provisions

  • A landlord cannot commence eviction for nonpayment of rent unless they show compliance with the registry requirements at the time of filing.
  • DOH may seek injunctive relief and penalties for repeated noncompliance; the Attorney General may also pursue injunctive relief and higher penalties for repeated violations. Penalties collected support lead safety and related enforcement.

Affected Parties

  • Primary: Landlords of residential rental properties constructed before 1978.
  • Indirect: Tenants, lead hazard mitigation programs, and the public (via a potential online database and better lead safety oversight).

Timelines and Effective Date

  • Effective date: Upon passage of the act.
  • Initial regulatory duties and penalties begin after October 1, 2024.
  • Public online database contemplated within 9 months after the act’s effective date, contingent on funding.

Additional Context

  • The act aligns with lead safety goals by creating a centralized registry to improve enforcement of lead hazard mitigation rules.
  • Data sharing is restricted to the DOH; the public database would display limited, non-sensitive information.

If you’d like, I can provide a concise one-page briefing or a side-by-side comparison with existing RI lead and landlord-tenant requirements.

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

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