Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7551: 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 6, 2026:
2026 -- H 7551 ======== LC004273 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Solomon, Kazarian, Azzinaro, Edwards, Corvese, Ackerman, McEntee, Serpa, and Cotter Date Introduced: February 06, 2026 Referred To: House 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
- Brian Kennedy (D, HD-038) · primary sponsor
- Joseph Solomon (D)
- Katherine Kazarian (D, HD-063)
- Samuel Azzinaro (D)
- John Edwards (D, HD-070)
- Arthur Corvese (D, HD-055)
- Mia Ackerman (D, HD-045)
- Hagan McEntee, Carol (D, HD-033)
- Patricia Serpa (D, HD-027)
- Megan Cotter (D, HD-039)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed as amended in concurrence
- : Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
- : House passed as amended (floor amendment)
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
Votes
- House Seq #174: PASSAGE AS AMENDED (May 12, 2026): 64 yea, 8 nay, passed
- House Seq #173: PASSAGE AS AMENDED RULING OF THE CHAIR (May 12, 2026): 60 yea, 10 nay, passed
- House Seq #172: PASSAGE PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT (May 12, 2026): 71 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Judiciary: Passage (April 28, 2026): 14 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: CRIMINAL OFFENSES
Common questions
- What is H7551?
- H7551 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 H7551 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 H7551?
- Signed into law as of June 10, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 10, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7551?
- Brian Kennedy (D, HD-038), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7551?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7551aa.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.