Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island S2715: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING (Establishes the criminal offense of real estate title fraud and
Status: Signed into law, June 10, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING (Establishes the criminal offense of real estate title fraud and allows municipalities to refuse to record “suspicious documents” from persons who are not trusted submitters and creates penalties for real estate title fraud.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2026:
2026 -- S 2715 ======== LC005209 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Ciccone, Tikoian, Britto, Burke, Bissaillon, Felag, LaMountain, Murray, and McKenney Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: Senate Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 11-18 of the General Laws entitled "Fraud and False Dealing" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections: 11-18-35. Real estate title fraud -- Suspicious documents and instruments. (a) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) "Document" means information inscribed on a tangible medium or stored in an electronic or other medium and retrievable in perceivable form. (2) "Instrument" means a deed, to secure debt, security deed, mortgage, security interest, deed of trust, promissory note, or any other document representing a security interest or lien upon any interest property including the renewal, modification, or refinancing of any such loan. (3) "Pattern of real estate title fraud" means one or more violations of subsection (d) of this section and that have the same or similar interests, results, accomplices or methods of commission or otherwise results from comparable actions or omissions. (4) "Person" means an individual, corporation, company, limited liability company, partnership, trustee, association, or …
Sponsors
- Valarie Lawson (D, SD-014) · primary sponsor
- Frank Ciccone (D, SD-007)
- David Tikoian (D, SD-022)
- Robert Britto (D, SD-018)
- John Burke (D, SD-009)
- Jacob Bissaillon (D, SD-001)
- Walter Felag (D, SD-010)
- Matthew LaMountain (D, SD-031)
- Melissa Murray (D, SD-024)
- Mark McKenney (D, SD-030)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : House passed Sub A in concurrence
- : Placed on the House Consent Calendar
- : Senate passed Sub A
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- : Proposed Substitute
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Votes
- House Seq #284: PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE (June 4, 2026): 63 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Seq #280: (May 28, 2026): 37 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage of Sub A (May 21, 2026): 8 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage (April 16, 2026): 8 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: CRIMINAL OFFENSES
Common questions
- What is S2715?
- S2715 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING (Establishes the criminal offense of real estate title fraud and.
- What does S2715 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING (Establishes the criminal offense of real estate title fraud and allows municipalities to refuse to record “suspicious documents” from persons who are not trusted submitters and creates penalties for real estate title fraud.)
- What is the status of S2715?
- Signed into law as of June 10, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 10, 2026).
- Who sponsored S2715?
- Valarie Lawson (D, SD-014), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S2715?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2715A.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.