The bill amends the General Laws in Chapter 42-63.1, "Tourism and Development," to update definitions and regulations concerning the tourism and lodging industry in Rhode Island. It expands the definition of "hotel" to include a variety of lodging facilities and introduces the term "hosting platform," which refers to an electronic system that facilitates reservations for tourist or transient use and is responsible for collecting and remitting taxes. The bill also updates the definitions of terms such as "occupancy," "owner," "residential unit," "tour operator," and "tourist or transient" to cover a wider range of lodging situations, including short-term rentals.

The bill specifies that hosting platforms must list a valid registration number and its expiration date for each property advertised for tourist or transient use, with a new insertion requiring this information to be displayed on their listings. A civil fine of $250 per day is imposed for each violation, with each property listing considered a separate violation. Hosting platforms are also required to submit a monthly electronic report to the Department of Business Regulation with details on the listings they manage. Additionally, the bill sets fines for property owners who fail to register their short-term rental properties, ranging from $250 for the first 30 days of non-compliance to $1,000 for more than 60 days. The act will take effect on January 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
5833: 42-63.1-14