S 2579

2026 -- S 2579
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LC004825
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  STATE  OF        RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT
  Introduced By: Senators Bissaillon, and Mack
  Date Introduced: February 13, 2026
  Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Section 34-18-37 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-18 entitled "Residential
2 Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
334-18-37. Termination of periodic tenancy.
4(a) The landlord or the tenant may terminate a week-to-week tenancy by a written notice,
5 in a form substantially similar to that provided in § 34-18-56(c), delivered to the other at least ten
6 (10) days before the termination date specified in the notice.
7(b) The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy or any periodic
8 tenancy for more than a month or less than a year by a written notice, in a form substantially similar
9 to that provided in § 34-18-56(c), delivered to the other at least thirty (30) sixty (60) days before
10 the date specified in the notice, or at least one hundred twenty (120) days before the date specified
11 in the notice for tenants aged sixty-two (62) years or older.
12(c) The landlord or tenant may terminate a year-to-year tenancy by written notice, in a form
13 substantially similar to that provided in § 34-18-56(c), delivered to the other at least three (3)
14 months prior to the expiration of the occupation year.
15SECTION 2. Section 34-18-56 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-18 entitled "Residential
16 Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
1734-18-56. Notices and complaint forms.
18(a) A notice in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of giving
19 a tenant a five (5) day demand for payment of rent prior to commencement of an eviction pursuant
1 to § 34-18-35:
2FIVE-DAY DEMAND NOTICE FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT
3R.I.G.L. 34-18-35
4Date of Mailing: _____________________
5TO: __________________________
6(tenant)
7_____________________________
8_____________________________
9You are now more than fifteen days in arrears for some or all of the rent owed under your
10 rental agreement. State law requires that you be sent this Notice of arrearage.
11Unless you make payment of all rent in arrears within five days of the date this notice was
12 mailed to you, an eviction action may be instituted in court against you. You can prevent the
13 eviction by paying all rent owing within five days of the mailing of this notice.
14If you believe you have a legal reason for not paying this rent, you will be able to present
15 that defense at the eviction hearing. The rent in arrears as of the above date is $_____________.
16__________________________
17 ________
18(signature)
19__________________________
20 ________
21__________________________
22 ________
23(name and address of land-
24 lord/owner)
25I certify that I placed in regular U.S. mail, first class postage prepaid, a copy of this Notice,
26 addressed to the tenant, on the ________ day of ________________________, 20______.
27__________________________
28 ________
29(landlord     or    owner
30 signature)
31(b) A notice in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of giving
32 a tenant a notice of noncompliance with the rental agreement pursuant to § 34-18-36:
33NOTICE OF NONCOMPLIANCE
34R.I.G.L. 34-18-36
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1Date of Mailing: ____________________
2TO: __________________________
3(tenant)
4_____________________________
5_____________________________
6(address)
7You are in breach of your rental agreement, or of your legal duties under R.I.G.L. 34-18-
8 24, because you:
9______________________________________________________________________
10______________________________________________________________________
11______________________________________________________________________
12(provide details)
13To remedy this situation you must do the following within twenty days of the date of
14 mailing of this Notice:
15______________________________________________________________________
16______________________________________________________________________
17______________________________________________________________________
18If you do not remedy this situation within twenty days, your rental agreement will terminate
19 without further notice on __________ (date, which must be not less than twenty-one days from the
20 date of mailing of this Notice). (NOTE: Under the law you lose this right to remedy your
21 noncompliance if this is the second notice on the same subject within the past six months.) After
22 that date an eviction case may begin in court, and you may be served with a complaint. You will
23 have the right to a hearing and to present any defenses you believe you have.
24__________________________
25 ________
26(signature)
27__________________________
28 ________
29__________________________
30 ________
31(name and address of land-
32 lord/owner)
33I certify that I placed in regular U.S. mail, first class postage prepaid, a copy of this Notice,
34 addressed to the tenant, on the ________ day of ________________________, 20______.
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1__________________________
2 ________
3(landlord    or      owner
4 signature)
5(c) A notice in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of giving
6 a tenant notice of termination of tenancy pursuant to § 34-18-37:
7NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF TENANCY
8R.I.G.L. 34-18-37
9Date of Mailing: _______________________
10TO: _________________________
11(tenant)
12_____________________________
13_____________________________
14(address)
15You are hereby directed to vacate and remove your property and personal possessions from
16 the premises located at __________________________________ and deliver control of the
17 premises to the
18(address of premises)
19 landlord/owner on the first day after the end of your current rental period, namely
20 ____________________, 20_____ rental period, namely __________________.
21(insert
22 date)
23This notice is given for the purpose of terminating your tenancy. You must continue to pay
24 rent as it becomes due until the date indicated above. If you fail to pay that rent, a nonpayment
25 eviction action may be instituted against you.
26If you fail to vacate the premises by the date specified, an eviction may be instituted against
27 you without further notice. If you believe you have a defense to this termination, you will be able
28 to raise that defense at the court hearing.
29__________________________
30 ________
31(signature)
32__________________________
33 ________
34__________________________
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1 ________
2(name and address of land-
3 lord/owner)
4I certify that I placed in regular U.S. mail, first class postage prepaid, a copy of this Notice,
5 addressed to the tenant, on the ________ day of ________________________, 20______.
6__________________________
7 ________
8(landlord     or     owner
9 signature)
10(d) A complaint in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of
11 commencing an eviction action for nonpayment of rent pursuant to § 34-18-35:
12State of Rhode Island
13_______________________, Sc.  DISTRICT
14 COURT
15____________________________  _____________
16 DIVISION
17PLAINTIFF  DEFENDANT
18____________________________
19__________________________
20 ________
21(Landlord's Name)  (Tenant's Name)
22V
23__________________________________
24__________________________
25 ________
26__________________________________
27__________________________
28 ________
29__________________________________
30__________________________
31 ________
32(address)  (address      of    rental
33 premises)
34COMPLAINT FOR EVICTION
  LC004825 - Page 5 of 17
1FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT
2R.I.G.L. 34-18-35
31. Plaintiff is the owner/landlord of the rental premises listed above, in which the Defendant
4 Tenant currently resides.
52. Defendant is more than fifteen days in arrears in rental payments due to the plaintiff from
6 the defendant. The rent is $__________ per __________, and the amount in arrears is $________
7 as of the __________ day of __________, 20____.
8(month)
93. Plaintiff has served the five-day demand notice as required by law, and a copy of that
10 notice is attached to this complaint. The notice was mailed to the defendant on the __________ day
11 of ________, 20____.
124. Defendant has not paid the rent in arrears or offered the full amount in arrears, either
13 before or after the demand notice. Defendant remains in possession of the rental premises.
14WHEREFORE, Plaintiff requests that this Court grant a judgment for possession of the
15 premises (eviction of the tenant) and for back rent in the amount of $______________, plus costs.
16__________________________
17 ________
18(Name       &      address      of
19 landlord/owner
20or attorney for landlord)
21__________________________
22 ________
23Date complaint filed with clerk __________________
24(e) A complaint in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of
25 commencing an eviction action for noncompliance with the rental agreement pursuant to § 34-18-
26 36, or an eviction action for unlawfully holding over after expiration or termination of the tenancy
27 pursuant to § 34-18-38:
28STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
29_______________________, Sc.  DISTRICT
30 COURT
31____________________________  _____________
32 DIVISION
33PLAINTIFF  DEFENDANT
34____________________________
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1__________________________
2 ________
3(Landlord's Name)  (Tenant's Name)
4V
5__________________________________
6__________________________
7 ________
8__________________________________
9__________________________
10 ________
11(address)  (address     of     rental
12 premises)
13COMPLAINT FOR EVICTION
14FOR REASON OTHER THAN
15NONPAYMENT OF RENT
16R.I.G.L. 34-18-36
17R.I.G.L. 34-18-38
181. Plaintiff Landlord(s) owns the rental premises listed above, in which the Defendant
19 Tenant(s) resides.
202. CHECK ONE:
21____ Defendant breached the tenant's obligations under the rental agreement or § 34-18-
22 24 as set forth in the attached copy of the notice of noncompliance which was mailed to the
23 defendant. Defendant has not cured or remedied the breach. (Plaintiff must attach copy of required
24 notice of noncompliance.)
25____ Defendant has remained in possession of the rented premises following the period set
26 forth in the attached notice of termination of tenancy which was mailed to defendant. (Plaintiff
27 must attach copy of required termination notice.)
28____ Defendant breached the tenants' obligations under § 34-18-24(8), (9) or (10).
293. Plaintiff seeks judgment for possession of the premises plus judgment in the amount of
30 _______________________________________________________________________
31for ____________________________________________________________________
32______________________________________________________________________
33______________________________________________________________________
34______________________________________________________________________
  LC004825 - Page 7 of 17
1(explain basis for money claim)
2Plaintiff seeks costs and fees (if applicable).
3__________________________
4 ________
5(Signature of Landlord/Owner or
6Attorney)
7__________________________
8 ________
9Date complaint filed with clerk __________
10(f) A complaint in substantially the following language, or in similar language, shall be
11 sufficient for use by landlords or by tenants to bring any claims or causes of action other than
12 eviction actions:
13NOT FOR EVICTION
14State of Rhode Island
15_______________________, Sc.  DISTRICT
16 COURT
17____________________________  _____________
18 DIVISION
19PLAINTIFF  DEFENDANT
20____________________________
21__________________________
22 ________
23(Name)  (Name)
24V
25__________________________________
26__________________________
27 ________
28__________________________________
29__________________________
30 ________
31__________________________________
32__________________________
33 ________
34(address)  (address     of     rental
  LC004825 - Page 8 of 17
1 premises)
2LANDLORD-TENANT COMPLAINT
3(NOT FOR USE IN EVICTIONS)
41. Plaintiff is the ____ Tenant ____ Landlord/Owner of the rental premises
5 at. _____________________________________________________________________
6(address of rental premises)
72. Defendant is the ____ Tenant ____ Landlord/Owner.
83. Plaintiff claims that defendant has breached the obligations of the rental agreement or
9 law in relation to this landlord-tenant relationship, as follows:
10______________________________________________________________________
11______________________________________________________________________
12______________________________________________________________________
13(brief description of claim, attach extra sheet, if necessary)
144. Plaintiff seeks the following judgment or relief from the Court:
15______________________________________________________________________
16______________________________________________________________________
17______________________________________________________________________
18Date  Complaint  Filed
19__________________________
20 ________
21With Clerk: __________  (Signature       of     plaintiff     or
22 plaintiff's
23attorney)
24__________________________
25 ________
26(address)
27(g) The summons in an action for eviction for nonpayment of rent pursuant to § 34-18-35
28 shall be in substantially the following form:
29STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
30DISTRICT  COURT
31SU
32 MMONS
33EVICTION-NONPAYMENT OF RENT
34DIVISION COUNTY CIVIL ACTION-FILE NO.
  LC004825 - Page 9 of 17
1Address of Court:
2__________________________________
3__________________________
4 ________
5__________________________________
6__________________________
7 ________
8__________________________________
9__________________________
10 ________
11(name & address of plaintiff landlord)  (name   &    address    of
12 defendant-tenant)
13TO THE TENANT: You are served with an eviction complaint for nonpayment of rent. If
14 you do nothing, you will lose by default and be evicted. If you claim any defense, you must
15 complete the enclosed ANSWER and file it with the Court Clerk at or before the hearing date. You
16 should also mail a copy to the landlord or the landlord's lawyer. Your hearing will be at 9:30 A.M.
17 on the hearing date, at the court address listed above. You should go to the hearing or you may lose
18 by default. If you think the case is "settled," you should still go to the hearing to make sure the
19 settlement is in the court record.
20YOUR HEARING DATE IS: ________________________________.
21(Proof of Service on next page)
22________________________________________
23PROOF OF SERVICE
24I hereby certify that I served a copy of the Complaint and Summons & Answer upon the
25 defendant(s) by delivering or leaving said papers in the following manner:
26______ to the defendant personally; or
27______ at his or her dwelling unit or usual place of abode
28 at the
29address listed below with a person of suitable age
30 then
31residing therein; or
32______ if none be found, by posting conspicuously on the
33 door
34to the defendant's dwelling unit.
  LC004825 - Page 10 of 17
1ADDRESS OF DWELLING OR USUAL PLACE OF ABODE:
2_________________________________________________________
3NAME OF PERSON OF SUITABLE AGE:
4
5
6SERVICE  DATE:
7______________________________________________________________________
8DEPUTY  SHERIFF/CONSTABLE:
9______________________________________________________________________
10______________________________________________________________________
11CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
12I hereby certify that a copy of this Complaint and Summons was placed into regular U.S.
13 Mail, postage prepaid, on the __________________ day of ________________, 20____, addressed
14 to defendant at the following address:
15 ________________________________________________.
16__________________________
17 ________
18(Signature   of   ____________
19 Clerk)
20(h) The summons in an action for eviction for noncompliance with the rental agreement
21 pursuant to § 34-18-36, or for unlawfully holding over after termination or expiration of tenancy
22 pursuant to § 34-18-38, shall be in substantially the following form:
23State of Rhode Island
24District  Court
25Summons
26EVICTION FOR REASON OTHER THAN NONPAYMENT OF RENT
27DIVISION  COUNTY  CIVIL ACTION-
28 FILE NO.
29Address of Court:
30__________________________________
31__________________________
32 ________
33V
34__________________________________
  LC004825 - Page 11 of 17
1__________________________
2 ________
3__________________________________
4__________________________
5 ________
6(name & address of plaintiff landlord)  (name & address of defendant-
7 tenant)
8TO THE TENANT: You are served with an eviction complaint for noncompliance with
9 rental agreement (R.I.G.L. 34-18-36), or for unlawfully holding over after termination or expiration
10 of tenancy (R.I.G.L. 34-18-38). If you do nothing, you will lose by default and be evicted. If you
11 claim any defense, you must complete the enclosed ANSWER and file it with the Court Clerk
12 within TWENTY (20) days after you are served with this summons and complaint. You should also
13 mail a copy of the ANSWER to the landlord or the landlord's lawyer. If you file the enclosed
14 ANSWER, then you will receive another written notice telling you when the hearing will be. If you
15 have any questions, you may consult a lawyer. If you think the case is "settled" you should still file
16 the enclosed ANSWER or be sure that the written settlement is in the file at the Clerk's office.
17(Proof of Service on next page)
18________________________________________
19PROOF OF SERVICE
20I hereby certify that I served a copy of the Complaint, Summons, and Answer form upon
21 the defendant(s) by delivering or leaving said papers in the following manner:
22____ to the defendant personally
23____ at his/her dwelling unit or usual place of abode at the address listed below, with a
24 person of suitable age then residing therein
25____ to an agent named below authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of
26 process
27____ further notice as required by law was given as noted below
28Address of dwelling or usual place of abode:
29______________________________________________________________________
30Name of person of suitable age or of agent:
31______________________________________________________________________
32Service Date: ____________________
33Deputy Sheriff/Constable (circle one):
34__________________________
  LC004825 - Page 12 of 17
1 ________
2(signature)
3(i) The summons in an action relating to any claims by tenants, or by landlords other than
4 for eviction, shall be in substantially the following form:
5State of Rhode Island
6District  Court
7Summons
8____________  ____________
9_____________________________
10DIVISION  COUNTY  CIVIL ACTION-
11 FILE NO.
12_____________________________
13_____________________
14 ________
15PLAINTIFF  PLAINTIFF'S
16 ATTORNEY
17__________________________
18 ________
19ADDRESS
20_________________  vs
21DEFENDANT
22__________________________
23 ________
24DEFENDANT'S ADDRESS
25______________________________
26__________________________
27 ________
28TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT:
29You are hereby summoned and required to serve upon the plaintiff's attorney, whose name
30 and address appears above, an answer to the complaint which is herewith served upon you. Your
31 answer must be made within 20 days after service of this summons, excluding the date of service.
32 The original must be filed in writing with this court. If you fail to do so, judgment by default will
33 be taken against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.
34______________________________
  LC004825 - Page 13 of 17
1__________________________
2 ________
3DATE  CLERK
4______________________________
5__________________________
6 ________
7SEAL OF THE DISTRICT COURT  DATE
8 RECEIVED
9______________________________________________________________________
10PROOF OF SERVICE
11I hereby certify that on the date below I served a copy of this summons and a copy of the
12 complaint received herewith upon the above-named defendant by delivering or leaving said papers
13 in the following manner:
14□ to the defendant personally.
15□ at his dwelling house or usual place of abode at the address entered
16below, with a person of suitable age and discretion then residing therewith.
17□ to an agent named below authorized by appointment or by law to receive
18service of process.
19□ Further notice as required by statute was given as noted on the reverse
20side.
21______________________________________________________________________
22Address of Dwelling or Usual Place of Abode
23______________________________________________________________________
24Name of Authorized Agent or Person of Suitable Age
25______________________________
26__________________________
27 ________
28Date  Deputy Sheriff/Constable
29______________________________
30__________________________
31 ________
32SERVICE FEE $________
33(j) The blank answer served in eviction actions shall be in substantially the following form:
34State of Rhode Island
  LC004825 - Page 14 of 17
1_______________________, Sc.  DISTRICT
2 COURT
3____________________________  _____________
4 DIVISION
5PLAINTIFF  DEFENDANT
6____________________________
7__________________________
8 ________
9(Landlord's Name)  (Tenant's Name)
10V
11__________________________________
12__________________________
13 ________
14__________________________________
15__________________________
16 ________
17(address)  (address     of       rental
18 premises)
19INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DEFENDANT
20Listed below are several possible defenses to the eviction action your landlord has filed
21 against you. If one or more of these defenses apply to your case, check the appropriate box(es). If
22 space is provided, write in facts in support of that defense. Use additional paper if necessary. Some
23 of these defenses are technical, and there may be others not listed here. You may consult a lawyer
24 and seek representation before filling out this Answer.
25TENANT'S ANSWER
26The complaint against me is untrue or fails to state the following facts:
27I offered rent, but my landlord refused it. I am still able and willing to pay the rent.
28I have a defense for nonpayment because the landlord has failed to maintain the premises
29 in a fit and habitable condition.
30My rent has not been paid, but I have a legally justifiable defense for not paying:
31I have a written lease which does not expire until:
32I have not received the required notice from the landlord before this complaint was served
33 on me.
34The landlord is trying to evict me because I have exercised my legal rights by calling code
  LC004825 - Page 15 of 17
1 enforcement officials, or by taking the following protected action:
2I have other defenses as follow:
3WHEREFORE: Because of the defense(s) indicated above, I ask the court to grant a
4 judgment in my favor and not order me to be evicted.
5COUNTERCLAIM
6Instructions: If you believe you are entitled to be awarded damages or money for any reason
7 from your landlord, you may fill out the statement below:
8I hereby sue my landlord for the amount of $_____________.
9I believe I am entitled to receive an award of this amount because
10______________________________________________________________________
11__________________________________
12__________________________
13 ________
14Name of Defendant (or attorney)  Signature of Defendant
15___________________________________
16Address
17___________________________________
18Telephone number
19___________________________________
20SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004825
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  LC004825 - Page 16 of 17
  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT
  ***
1This act would increase the notification time about rent increases and termination of
2 tenancy for month-to-month tenants.
3This act would take effect upon passage.
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    LC004825
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