Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H8215: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RHODE ISLAND FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES ACT (Tenants with disabilities may request to keep an emotion
Status: In committee, June 9, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RHODE ISLAND FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES ACT (Tenants with disabilities may request to keep an emotional support animal.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2026:
2026 -- H 8215 ======== LC004751 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RHODE ISLAND FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES ACT Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Fellela, Read, and Ackerman Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 34-37-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-37 entitled "Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: 34-37-4. Unlawful housing practices. (a) No owner having the right to sell, rent, lease, or manage a housing accommodation as defined in § 34-37-3, or an agent of any of these, shall, directly or indirectly, make, or cause to be made, any written or oral inquiry concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, lawful source of income, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin, or disability, age, familial status nor make any written or oral inquiry concerning whether a tenant or applicant or a member of the household is, or has been, or is threatened with being the victim of domestic abuse, or whether a tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from …
Sponsors
- Patricia Serpa (D, HD-027) · primary sponsor
- Deborah Fellela (D)
- Earl Read (D, HD-026)
- Mia Ackerman (D, HD-045)
Latest actions
- : Referred to Senate Judiciary
- : House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- : Proposed Substitute
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
Votes
- House Seq #330: PASSAGE AS AMENDED (June 8, 2026): 66 yea, 6 nay, passed
- House Seq #329: PASSAGE PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT (June 8, 2026): 71 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Judiciary: Passage of Sub A (June 3, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: PROPERTY
Common questions
- What is H8215?
- H8215 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RHODE ISLAND FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES ACT (Tenants with disabilities may request to keep an emotion.
- What does H8215 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RHODE ISLAND FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES ACT (Tenants with disabilities may request to keep an emotional support animal.)
- What is the status of H8215?
- In committee as of June 9, 2026. Latest action: Referred to Senate Judiciary (June 9, 2026).
- Who sponsored H8215?
- Patricia Serpa (D, HD-027), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H8215?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8215Aaa.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.