# Rhode Island S2715: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING . Rhode Island S2715, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Valarie J. Lawson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-10 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 055); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S2715-2026 - 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 S2715 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING . - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-27 - Last action: 2026-06-10, Signed by Governor — Chapter 055 - Sponsor: Valarie J. Lawson (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 9 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (137 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Owners can sue over forged deeds: benefit, high. If someone files a false or forged deed or other paper that affects your property, you can sue the filer. You can recover your actual losses or $5,000, whichever is more, plus your costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. - Free alerts for new property filings: benefit, low. By January 1, 2028, every town offers a free property alert system. If you enroll a property, you get a notice within ten business days when any document is recorded that affects it. The notice states the document type, the property, and recording details. You can choose mail, text, call, or email… - Criminal penalties for title fraud: benefit, low. The law makes it a crime to record or offer forged or false deeds, mortgages, liens, or other property documents with intent to defraud. A first conviction is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to $50,000 in fines. A pattern of violations can bring up to 20 years and up to $100,000, and… - Notaries can refuse without proper ID: cost, low. A notary may refuse to notarize if you do not provide information needed for identity proofing or you do not agree to pay for that identity check. - Tighter rules for remote property filings: mixed, low. Beginning September 1, 2027, towns only accept remote e-filings if the filer provides sufficient ID or a trusted submitter files it. Trusted submitters include a title company or agent, a Rhode Island lawyer, or a regulated bank. A court can void filings that break this rule. Recorders may temporar… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Valarie J. Lawson (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Jacob Bissaillon (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Robert Britto (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: John P. Burke (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Frank A. Ciccone, III (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Walter S. Felag Jr. (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Matthew L. LaMountain (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Mark P. McKenney (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Melissa A. Murray (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: David P. Tikoian (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-04 | House | FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE | pass | 63 | 0 | | | 2026-05-28 | Senate | RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING Passage | pass | 37 | 0 | | | 2026-05-28 | Senate | RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING Passage | pass | 37 | 0 | | ## Actions (12) - 2026-06-10: Signed by Governor — Chapter 055 (Governor) - 2026-06-04: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-04: House passed Sub A in concurrence (House) - 2026-06-02: Placed on the House Consent Calendar (06/04/2026) (House) - 2026-05-28: Senate passed Sub A (Senate) - 2026-05-22: Placed on Senate Calendar (05/28/2026) (Senate) - 2026-05-21: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-05-20: Proposed Substitute - 2026-05-19: Scheduled for consideration (05/21/2026) - 2026-04-16: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-04-10: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/16/2026) - 2026-02-27: Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary (Senate) ## Bill text - S2715 - As Introduced, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2715.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2715.pdf) - S2715 - Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2715A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2715A.pdf) ## Related bills - S3047: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE . (became law) - H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY . (became law) - H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN . (became law) ## Sources - [S2715 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2715.htm) - [S2715 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2715.pdf) - [S2715 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2715A.htm) - [S2715 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2715A.pdf) ## Related - [S3047: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3047-2026) - [H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8605-2026) - [H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8580-2026) - [H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8586-2026) - [H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8525-2026) - [H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8506-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S2715-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).