PROPERTY -- PUBLIC AUCTIONS OF REAL ESTATE, the official text

H7359 2026 -- H 7359 ======== LC004631 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO PROPERTY -- PUBLIC AUCTIONS OF REAL ESTATE Introduced By: Representative Jacquelyn M. Baginski Date Introduced: January 28, 2026 Referred To: House Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Purpose 2 The purpose of this act is to bring greater public scrutiny to the public auction sales of real 3 estate in Rhode Island. 4 SECTION 2. Title 34 of the General Laws entitled PROPERTY is hereby amended by 5 adding thereto the following chapter: 6 CHAPTER 51 7 PUBLIC AUCTIONS OF REAL ESTATE 8 34-51-1. Public auctions of real estate. 9 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, public auctions by any city or town 10 of real estate or an interest therein shall only be done in person at the time and place specified in 11 the legal advertisement, and in accordance with Rhode Island statutes that govern said sales, to 12 include, but not be limited to, the provisions of chapter 9 of title 44. 13 (b) No public auction of real estate or an interest therein shall be done by electronic or 14 remote procedures unless authorized by court order of the Rhode Island superior court, after hearing 15 thereon and a finding that an in-person auction is not feasible under the circumstances of the 16 specific case. 1 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC004631 ======== LC004631 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO PROPERTY -- PUBLIC AUCTIONS OF REAL ESTATE *** 1 This act would require public auctions by any city or town of real estate or an interest 2 therein to only be done in person and not by electronic or remote procedures unless authorized by 3 court order. 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC004631 ======== LC004631 - Page 3 of 3