The bill amends Section 45-6-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-6, titled "Ordinances," to enhance the enforcement mechanisms for municipal ordinance violations. It allows town and city councils to impose penalties for such violations. Whenever a municipality issues a fine for an ordinance violation, those fines shall become a lien against the real property owned by the violator. If the fine is not paid within 90 days of issuance, the lien will be recorded with the municipality's land evidence records, incurring legal interest from the date of recording. The costs incurred by the municipality to remediate issues caused by the ordinance violation, along with the unpaid fine, shall be added to the amount of taxes due on the real estate where the violation occurred, and the tax collector shall include these amounts on tax bills to the property owner.

Additionally, the tax collector of the city or town will have the same powers and responsibilities regarding the collection of these claims as they do for annual property taxes. The provisions of law related to the collection of annual taxes, the sale or taking of land for nonpayment, and the redemption of land sold or taken will apply to these claims. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage, enabling municipalities to recover fines more effectively and ensuring compliance with local ordinances.

Statutes affected:
5693: 45-6-2