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Rhode IslandS22912026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT -- RHODE ISLAND SURVIVOR EARLY LEASE TERMINATION ACT .

Sponsored By: Melissa A. Murray (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

End your lease safely after abuse

You can end your lease without penalty if you or a household member were a victim in the last 150 days, or a recent event plus past abuse makes you reasonably fear for safety. You may use a protective order, proof you started a case to get one, a police or court record, a note from listed professionals or advocates, or the free self‑certification form from the Secretary of State. The landlord must keep this proof private. After notice, you have 30 days to move unless you both agree otherwise. You owe rent only through the termination or move‑out date (whichever is later), and the landlord must return any prepaid rent and your deposit for time after that with an itemized statement within 20 days.

No denials; courts enforce survivor rights

A landlord cannot refuse to rent to you because you ended a lease under the survivor rule or asked to change locks. Housing subsidy programs cannot deny you assistance for those reasons. Any lease term that waives these survivor rights is void. The district court can stop violations and award remedies. If a court issues a protective order requiring someone to leave, the owner must follow that order and still honor valid lock‑change requests.

Quick lock changes for threatened tenants

If you reasonably face an imminent threat of abuse, the owner must change the locks within two business days or let you do it. The owner can ask for proof, and if the alleged abuser is a tenant or household member you must give a protective order or a court or law‑enforcement record showing an imminent threat. The owner may charge a reasonable fee. If the owner does not act in two business days, you may change the locks and must give the owner a key within two business days if your lease requires it. If an owner blocks a valid lock change or withholds a key without good‑faith reason, you can recover actual and consequential damages or three months’ rent (whichever is more), plus costs and attorneys’ fees; owners may refuse a key to someone they reasonably believe is the perpetrator.

Who counts for survivor protections

The law broadens who is covered. Abuse includes crimes like child abuse, sexual assault, stalking, strangulation, kidnapping, and trafficking. Domestic violence covers many offenses, including assault, vandalism, trespass, sexual assault, homicide, stalking, cyberstalking, strangulation, and electronic tracking. A household member can be a child, a current or former partner or spouse, a relative, someone who lived with you in the last three years, someone who shares a child with you, or someone you dated or were engaged to in the last year.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Melissa A. Murray

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Jacob Bissaillon

    Democratic • Senate

  • Alana M. DiMario

    Democratic • Senate

  • Dawn Euer

    Democratic • Senate

  • Victoria Gu

    Democratic • Senate

  • Pamela J. Lauria

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lori Urso

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 105 • No: 0

House vote • 6/10/2026

SURVIVOR EARLY LEASE TERMINATION PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE

Yes: 68 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/9/2026

PROPERTY - RHODE ISLAND SURVIVOR EARLY LEASE TERMINATION ACT Passage

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor — Chapter 148

    6/18/2026Governor

  2. Transmitted to Governor

    6/16/2026Governor

  3. House passed Sub A in concurrence

    6/10/2026House

  4. Placed on the House Consent Calendar (06/10/2026)

    6/9/2026House

  5. Senate passed Sub A

    6/9/2026Senate

  6. Placed on Senate Calendar (06/09/2026)

    6/4/2026Senate

  7. Committee recommends passage of Sub A

    6/3/2026

  8. Proposed Substitute

    6/2/2026

  9. Meeting postponed (06/02/2026)

    6/2/2026

  10. Meeting postponed (06/02/2026)

    6/2/2026

  11. Scheduled for consideration (06/03/2026)

    6/1/2026

  12. Proposed Substitute

    6/1/2026

  13. Scheduled for consideration

    5/30/2026

  14. Committee recommended Substitute A be held for further study

    5/12/2026

  15. Committee recommended indefinite postponement

    5/12/2026

  16. Proposed Substitute

    5/11/2026

  17. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/12/2026)

    5/8/2026

  18. Meeting postponed (04/28/2026)

    4/24/2026

  19. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

    4/24/2026

  20. Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

    1/23/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • S2291 - As Introduced

    1/23/2026

    HTMLPDF

  • S2291 - Substitute

    1/23/2026

    HTMLPDF

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