Bills Enforcing Landlord Lead Violations Pass Both RI House, Senate

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island House of Representatives on Tuesday voted in favor of a series of bills to ensure landlords in the Ocean State follow lead mitigation laws on the books.

The bill package, introduced at the request of Attorney General Peter Neronha, has now passed both chambers and awaits Gov. Dan McKee's signature to become law.

"For more than 20 years, Rhode Island has had strong lead poisoning prevention laws on the books and with the passage of these bills today, we will finally have the tools we need to enforce compliance with these laws," Neronha said. "These bills contain perhaps the most significant tenant protections that Rhode Island has seen in a generation, and they certainly represent the most significant healthy housing legislation in at least two decades, since the passage of the Lead Hazard Mitigation Act of 2002. Together, we are making public health and safe housing a priority."

The first bill, sponsored by state Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Newport, Jamestown), and state Rep. Mia Ackerman (D-Lincoln, Cumberland). (2023-S 0804aa, 2023-H 6239A), establishes a statewide rental registry. Landlords must register identifying information with the Rhode Island Department of Health to support the state’s public health, housing policy, and consumer protection goals. Landlords who own non-exempt buildings that were built before 1978 would be required to file lead conformance certificates which are already required by state law.

A second bill that passed as part of the package (2023-S 0729aa, 2023-H 6238A), is sponsored by state Sen. Tiara Mack (D-Providence), and state Rep. David Morales. It allows tenants to pay their rent into an escrow account when there are unaddressed lead hazards in their homes. State officials said the legislation will ensure tenants remain current on their rent obligations, and landlords cannot to access the funds until they address the lead hazards.

The third bill (2023-S 0739, 2023-H 6201), sponsored by state Sen. Val Lawson (D-East Providence), and state Rep. Matthew Dawson (D-East Providence), will allow families affected by childhood lead poisoning to recover up to three times their actual damages (known as treble damages) if their landlord is found to have violated lead safety laws.

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