The bill amends sections of the General Laws in Chapter 10-16 entitled "Small Claims and Consumer Claims" to update procedures and fees related to small claims actions. Specifically, it revises the filing fee structure, requiring the plaintiff to pay $75.75, which includes a $55.00 filing fee, a $17.50 civil processing fee, and a $3.25 technology surcharge fee. The bill also establishes a "small claims mediation restricted-receipt account" under the control of the state court director of finance, from which the services of qualified mediators and related expenses can be paid. Additionally, the bill mandates that both the plaintiff and the defendant file a written waiver of the right to appeal when submitting a claim or a compulsory counterclaim, respectively.

The bill also increases the maximum amount for a counterclaim from $2,500 to $5,000 and outlines the fees associated with filing an appeal. The defendant must pay an appeal fee of $145.75, which includes various fees such as the appeal fee, filing fee, civil case processing fee, technology surcharge, and a service fee, with the total amount being paid to the adverse party. If the plaintiff is appealing on a counterclaim, they must pay a $50.00 appeal fee to the clerk, which is then paid to the adverse party or divided equally among multiple adverse parties. The bill also stipulates that in cases where the plaintiff is a consumer product purchaser seeking damages and the defendant defaults, the judgment shall be final, and the defendant forfeits all rights to appeal. The act will take effect upon passage.