Rhode Island House Bill H8110

Rhode Island 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/27/26
• Refer: 2/27/26

Caption

RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT

Summary

H8110 amends Rhode Island’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to add a new disclosure requirement for rental units that qualify as shoreline property. Before a tenancy begins, a landlord must provide the tenant a written shoreline access disclosure explaining that the public may have rights to access shoreline property, including use of wet sand, dry sand, or rocky beach up to ten feet landward of the recognizable high tide line, subject to existing law. The disclosure must also identify any known public rights-of-way on the property and, upon request, provide documentation in the landlord’s possession showing those rights-of-way or other public access conditions. The bill also preserves existing landlord disclosure obligations and keeps the current rule requiring landlords to disclose management and ownership contact information. It allows the shoreline disclosure to be included in the lease or delivered separately, and it takes effect immediately upon passage. In addition, the bill retains the existing requirement that a landlord who is delinquent on a mortgage for 120 days notify tenants that the property may be subject to foreclosure, while clarifying that rent must still be paid to the landlord until foreclosure occurs.

Impact

This bill would directly amend § 34-18-20 of the Rhode Island General Laws, expanding mandatory pre-tenancy disclosures for landlords of shoreline property. It would create a new statutory notice obligation tied to coastal access rights and public rights-of-way, affecting landlords, tenants, and rental agreements involving waterfront or beach-adjacent property. The measure does not change the underlying public access laws themselves, but it requires landlords to inform tenants about those rights and to share relevant documentation when available.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill is framed positively as a consumer-information and transparency measure, with no recorded committee testimony or votes indicating opposition or support. Its caption and text indicate a straightforward disclosure requirement rather than a major regulatory overhaul, which typically draws limited controversy. Because there is no transcript or voting history provided, the overall sentiment can only be characterized as neutral to favorable based on the bill’s purpose.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the scope and practical effect of the shoreline access disclosure requirement. Landlords of shoreline properties may view the mandate as an added administrative burden or worry that it could affect tenant expectations and property use, while supporters are likely to emphasize tenant awareness and public access transparency. Another possible issue is the bill’s reference to public shoreline rights and rights-of-way, which could raise questions about how much investigation landlords must do and whether they may be responsible for incomplete or disputed access information.