RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BED BUGS IN RESIDENTIAL PREMISES ACT
H7758 creates a new chapter in Rhode Island law called the “Bed Bugs in Residential Premises Act.” The bill establishes a detailed framework for how bed bug complaints in rental housing must be handled, including tenant notice obligations, landlord inspection duties, treatment timelines, access rules for inspectors and pest control agents, and disclosure requirements when a unit is offered for rent. It also defines key terms such as landlord, tenant, dwelling unit, contiguous dwelling unit, and pest control agent.
Under the bill, a tenant who knows or reasonably suspects bed bugs must promptly notify the landlord in writing or electronically. Once notified, the landlord must obtain an inspection within 96 hours, notify the tenant of the results within two business days, and, if bed bugs are confirmed, begin reasonable treatment measures within five business days. The bill also requires inspection of contiguous units when infestation is found, prohibits renting a unit the landlord knows or reasonably suspects contains bed bugs, and requires disclosure to prospective tenants about recent infestations and inspection history. The bill generally places inspection and treatment costs on the landlord, while making tenants responsible for preparing their unit and liable for costs if their unreasonable noncompliance causes additional treatment needs.
The bill also amends the state’s Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code to add a specific requirement that owners and occupants comply with the new bed bug chapter. It creates an exemption from the general housing maintenance provision for owners or occupants who are in compliance with the bed bug law, meaning bed bug conditions are treated under the new chapter rather than the broader occupancy code standard. The act would take effect immediately upon passage.
The overall sentiment appears to be practical and consumer-protective, with the bill framed as a clear allocation of responsibilities between landlords and tenants to address a common housing health issue. Because there are no recorded votes or committee transcripts provided, there is no direct evidence of formal support or opposition in the available materials. The bill’s structure suggests an emphasis on prompt remediation, tenant notification, and preventing the spread of infestations in multi-unit housing.
The main points of potential contention are the cost and burden allocation and the scope of landlord access to units and personal property. Landlords may object to being responsible for inspection and treatment costs, the short response deadlines, and the requirement to inspect contiguous units, while tenants may be concerned about access to their belongings, liability for noncompliance, and the lack of any requirement for alternative housing or replacement of personal property. The bill also preserves local and state health enforcement authority and does not preempt disability accommodation laws, which may be relevant in implementation.
The bill would add a new chapter to Title 23 governing bed bug infestations in residential premises and would amend the Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code to require compliance with that chapter. It would impose new statutory duties on landlords, tenants, pest control agents, and inspectors, including notice, inspection, treatment, disclosure, access, and cost-allocation rules. It would also create a specific exemption from the general housing maintenance provision for properties handled in compliance with the bed bug chapter, while leaving existing housing and health code enforcement authority intact.
The bill’s tone is generally remedial and tenant-protective, aiming to standardize how bed bug infestations are reported and addressed in rental housing. The available materials do not include committee testimony or votes, so there is no documented formal debate or recorded partisan split. Based on the text alone, the measure appears designed to reduce uncertainty and speed up treatment rather than to advance a controversial policy change.
Likely areas of disagreement include who pays for inspections and treatment, how quickly landlords must respond, and how much access inspectors and landlords may have to a tenant’s unit and personal property. Landlords may view the bill as imposing strict deadlines and broad financial responsibility, while tenants may be concerned about privacy, disruption, and liability if they fail to cooperate. Another possible issue is the bill’s requirement that landlords disclose prior bed bug history to prospective tenants, which could affect rental market practices.