The bill amends sections 9-12-10 and 9-12-10.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-12 entitled "District Court Practice," changing the procedures and fees associated with filing a claim of appeal to the superior court in civil cases. The amendments include the deletion of the requirement for the party claiming an appeal to pay all costs, including an attorney’s fee of $50.00, to the clerk at the time of claiming the appeal. Instead, new provisions are inserted specifying separate appeal fees for plaintiffs and defendants. Plaintiffs will now pay an appeal fee of $75.00, while defendants will pay a total of $195.75, which includes an appeal fee, filing fee, service fee, civil case processing fee, Rhode Island legal services fee, and a technology surcharge. These fees are to be paid to the adverse party or divided equally among multiple parties if applicable.

Additionally, the bill modifies the timeframe for filing a claim of appeal in landlord-tenant actions, allowing the inclusion of Saturdays, Sundays, and state or federal legal holidays within the five-day period after the judgment is entered. The explanation provided by the Legislative Council states that the act aims to amend the filing fees and the timeframe for certain claims of appeal to the superior court and that it will take effect upon passage.