# Rhode Island H8294: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- ABANDONED PROPERTY .

Rhode Island H8294, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- ABANDONED PROPERTY ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by June Speakman (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-06-24 (Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 346) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8294-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Rhode Island H8294
- State: Rhode Island
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- ABANDONED PROPERTY .
- Status: became law
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-03-13
- Last action: 2026-06-24, Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 346
- Sponsor: June Speakman (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (92 yes, 13 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- By-right energy on contaminated or receivership sites: benefit, medium. Renewable energy and storage are allowed as a by-right use on previously contaminated sites. The applicant must prove the site is contaminated, such as with a state or federal listing or a Phase I/II report. These projects follow industrial or manufacturing zone rules and can cover up to 75% of the…
- Priority for buyers adding energy storage: benefit, low. In a court-ordered receivership sale, the judge can prefer a buyer who agrees to install energy storage on the property. This gives those buyers a better chance to win the sale. The preference applies only in that sale.
- Courts can sell vacant problem properties sooner: mixed, medium. A judge can order the sale of an unoccupied building before cleanup if the court approves an abatement plan. The sale and deed must include a reverter that takes back title if the plan is not finished on time. The buyer must complete and pay for the cleanup under the approved plan.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: June Speakman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jacquelyn M. Baginski (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jennifer Boylan (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lauren H. Carson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jason Knight (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michelle E. McGaw (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tina L. Spears (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-06-10 | Senate | RELATING TO PROPERTY -- ABANDONED PROPERTY In Concurrence | pass | 33 | 5 |   |
| 2026-06-08 | House | ABANDONED PROPERTY PASSAGE | pass | 59 | 8 |   |

## Actions (12)

- 2026-06-24: Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 346 (Governor)
- 2026-06-16: Transmitted to Governor (Governor)
- 2026-06-10: Senate passed Sub A in concurrence (Senate)
- 2026-06-08: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/10/2026) (Senate)
- 2026-06-08: House passed Sub A (House)
- 2026-06-05: Placed on House Calendar (06/08/2026) (House)
- 2026-06-05: Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- 2026-06-02: Proposed Substitute
- 2026-06-02: Scheduled for consideration (06/05/2026)
- 2026-03-31: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 2026-03-27: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/31/2026)
- 2026-03-13: Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing (House)

## Bill text

- H8294 - As Introduced, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8294.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8294.pdf)
- H8294 - Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8294A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8294A.pdf)

## Related bills

- H8104: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGES OF REAL PROPERTY . (became law)
- H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES . (became law)
- H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law)
- H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT . (became law)
- H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE . (became law)
- S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law)

## Sources
- [H8294 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8294.htm)
- [H8294 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8294.pdf)
- [H8294 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8294A.htm)
- [H8294 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8294A.pdf)

## Related
- [H8104: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGES OF REAL PROPERTY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8104-2026)
- [H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8046-2026)
- [H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8025-2026)
- [H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7866-2026)
- [H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7642-2026)
- [S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3363-2026)
- [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills)
- [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8294-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).