PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT, the official text

S2266 2026 -- S 2266 ======== LC004268 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT Introduced By: Senators Mack, Kallman, Euer, Gu, Murray, Bissaillon, Famiglietti, Lauria, and DiMario Date Introduced: January 23, 2026 Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 34-18 of the General Laws entitled Residential Landlord and Tenant 2 Act is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 34-18-63. Determination of rent amount -- Use of algorithmic device prohibited. 4 (a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section: 5 (1) “Algorithmic device” means a device, software, tool, or model that uses one or more 6 computer-based algorithms, including machine learning or artificial intelligence, to perform 7 calculations concerning local or statewide rent amounts, occupancy trends, or other rental market 8 data for the primary purpose of advising, recommending, or determining the amount of rent a 9 landlord may charge, including adjustments to existing rent, that is not widely publicly accessible. 10 (2) “Nonpublic competitor data” means information that is derived from or about other 11 landlords, renters, occupancy, or pricing that is not widely available to the general public, including 12 but not limited to: 13 (i) Actual current rent prices for specific properties, units, or landlords collected from 14 nonpublic sources; 15 (ii) Occupancy rates, lease start/end data, or historical rental performance data obtained 16 from proprietary sources; 17 (iii) Data licensed or shared among participants in a competitive rental marketplace. 18 (3) “Rent” means the total consideration, fees, or charges a residential tenant is required to 19 pay for occupancy of a residential premises under any rental agreement, including concessions. 1 (b) Prohibition. Effective January 1, 2027, no landlord, property owner, property manager, 2 agent, or person acting on their behalf shall: 3 (1) Employ, use, knowingly rely upon, or cause another to employ, use, or rely upon an 4 algorithmic device that incorporates, uses, or was trained using nonpublic competitor data for the 5 purpose of determining, fixing, or suggesting the amount of rent to be charged to a residential 6 tenant; or 7 (2) Use an algorithmic device to determine any change in rent for a renewed lease term or 8 rent adjustment for an existing residential tenant. 9 (c) Exemptions. This section does not apply to: 10 (1) Rent or income limits established by federal, state, or local housing programs where 11 algorithmic tools are used solely to comply with program guidelines; 12 (2) Tools that produce only historical reporting of aggregate market data published no more 13 frequently than monthly, provided no individualized rent recommendations are made; 14 (3) Bona fide internal record-keeping or accounting systems that do not influence or set 15 rent amounts. 16 (d) Enforcement and remedies. 17 (1) Violations of this section shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive act or practice under 18 chapter 13.1 of title 6 ( deceptive trade practices ). 19 (2) The Rhode Island attorney general, or any person aggrieved by a violation, may seek 20 relief including equitable relief and civil penalties, as appropriate, under § 6-13.1-5 et seq. 21 (3) The attorney general may promulgate regulations necessary for enforcement of this 22 section, including definitions, exemptions, recordkeeping requirements, and compliance processes. 23 (e) Severability. Should any provision of this section be held invalid, the remainder shall 24 remain in full force and effect. 25 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC004268 ======== LC004268 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT *** 1 This act would prohibit the use of algorithmic pricing by landlords to determine the amount 2 of rent to charge a residential tenant. 3 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC004268 ======== LC004268 - Page 3 of 3