The bill amends sections 9-12-10 and 9-12-10.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-12, which pertains to "District Court Practice." It introduces a new claim of appeal process for civil cases, allowing any party to appeal a district court judgment to the superior court within five days, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. The bill establishes a filing fee of $75, which includes a civil case processing fee and a technology surcharge, replacing the previous requirement for an attorney's fee of $50. Additionally, it specifies that costs shall not be taxed below this new filing fee.
The bill also establishes a similar appeal process for landlord-tenant actions, allowing appeals to be filed within the same five-day timeframe, with the same $75 filing fee applicable. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and aims to streamline the appeal process while updating the associated costs.