The "Fair Chance in Housing Act" introduced as a new chapter to Title 34 of the General Laws, aims to regulate the use of criminal records in the housing application process. It defines key terms and prohibits housing providers from inquiring about an applicant's criminal record until after a conditional offer of tenancy is made. Housing providers must disclose their criteria for reviewing criminal history and inform applicants of their rights. The act limits the consideration of criminal records to the past ten years and only for certain serious offenses, and it outlines specific types of records that cannot be used in evaluating applicants, such as expunged or sealed records. If a conditional offer is withdrawn based on criminal history, the housing provider must provide a written justification and information on how to file a complaint.

The bill also sets civil penalties for violations, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, and assigns enforcement to the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights. Discriminatory advertising related to criminal records is banned, and housing providers cannot require drug or alcohol tests, with certain exceptions. The act protects individuals from retaliation for exercising their rights and limits the consideration of credit history to the three years preceding the application. Landlords are required to provide written notice of the reasons for denying a rental application within 20 days. The act will take effect immediately upon passage.