PRIA Logo™
Rhode IslandS29752026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE-- PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTION -- SMALL CLAIMS AND CONSUMER CLAIMS .

Sponsored By: Mark P. McKenney (Democratic)

Became Law

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

Higher $5,000 limit in small claims

Beginning January 1, 2027, the district court can decide small claims and counterclaims up to $5,000. If a defendant’s counterclaim is more than $5,000 and the court finds more than $5,000 is due, the court enters a decision against the plaintiff and awards the defendant costs only. The court does not decide the defendant’s claim in small claims. The defendant can still sue in regular court for the full amount.

No appeal after consumer-product default

Beginning January 1, 2027, if the plaintiff is a buyer of a consumer product seeking damages and you are defaulted for not answering, the district court’s judgment is final. You forfeit the right to appeal. You are not entitled to a new trial in superior court.

You must waive appeal to file

Beginning January 1, 2027, a plaintiff must file a written waiver of the right to appeal when filing a small claims or consumer claim. A defendant who files a compulsory counterclaim must also file a written waiver of appeal for that counterclaim. After you file the waiver, you cannot appeal that claim or counterclaim.

Standard $75 fees and mediation fund

Beginning January 1, 2027, it costs $75 to file a small claims or consumer claim in district court. $20 of that fee goes into a court account to pay mediators. If you appeal a small claims decision, you also pay a $75 appeal filing fee. These amounts include the court’s processing and technology surcharges. The chief judge can use the mediation funds to hire qualified mediators and cover related costs.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mark P. McKenney

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 106 • No: 0

House vote • 6/8/2026

SMALL CLAIMS AND CONSUMER CLAIMS PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE

Yes: 69 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/3/2026

COURTS/CIVIL PROCEDURE-- SMALL CLAIMS AND CONSUMER CLAIMS Passage

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 323

    6/24/2026Governor

  2. Transmitted to Governor

    6/16/2026Governor

  3. House passed in concurrence

    6/8/2026House

  4. Placed on the House Consent Calendar (06/08/2026)

    6/5/2026House

  5. Senate read and passed

    6/3/2026Senate

  6. Placed on Senate Calendar (06/03/2026)

    5/29/2026Senate

  7. Committee recommends passage

    5/28/2026

  8. Scheduled for consideration (05/28/2026)

    5/26/2026

  9. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

    3/31/2026

  10. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/31/2026)

    3/27/2026

  11. Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

    3/4/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • S2975 - As Introduced

    3/4/2026

    HTMLPDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation