This resolution proposes the creation of a special legislative commission in Rhode Island to study and provide recommendations for updating and clarifying the "Residential Landlord and Tenant Act." The commission would consist of eleven members appointed by the Speaker of the House, including three House Representatives (two from the Majority Party and one from the Minority Party) and a retired Judge. The commission is tasked with addressing the complexities and disputes that arise in landlord-tenant relationships, such as housing discrimination, maintenance issues, late payments, tenancy termination, and security deposits.
The commission is expected to organize promptly after the resolution's passage, select a chairperson, and begin its work without compensation. State departments and agencies are directed to assist the commission by providing necessary information. The commission will operate out of quarters provided by the Speaker of the House. It must report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives by May 5, 2025, and will dissolve on June 5, 2025. The resolution emphasizes the need to modernize the legal language to better reflect the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in Rhode Island.