Skip to main content
H8215AaaHousing

Property - Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act

This bill establishes rules and documentation requirements for tenants requesting to keep emotional support animals in rental housing.

Introduced71 Yea0 Nay4 Not voting
Population
Affected
28
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This bill updates the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act regarding animals in rental properties. It redefines a service animal as a dog specifically trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. It also creates a new category for emotional support animals (ESAs). Tenants can request to keep an ESA, but landlords can deny the request if the animal poses a safety threat, risks property damage, or affects property insurance. If a disability is not obvious, landlords can require sworn documentation from a Rhode Island-licensed healthcare provider who has treated the tenant for at least thirty days.

For younger readers

This bill changes the rules about having pets in rented homes. It says a "service animal" is a dog that is specially trained to help a person with a disability. It also makes rules for "emotional support animals," which are pets that help people feel better but don't need special training. If someone wants to keep an emotional support animal, the landlord (the person who owns the home) can ask for a doctor's note. The doctor must be from Rhode Island and know the person for at least a month. The person must pay for any damage the pet causes.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Tenants with disabilitiesLandlordsHealthcare practitionersProperty managersProperty insurance providers
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

The requirement that documentation must come specifically from a "Rhode Island licensed healthcare practitioner" could potentially raise minor constitutional questions under the Privileges and Immunities Clause or the dormant Commerce Clause. This might burden individuals moving from out of state who have established relationships with out-of-state medical providers. However, states have broad authority to regulate local housing and medical licensing, making successful constitutional challenges unlikely.

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Formally recognizes emotional support animals in state housing law, ensuring that individuals with mental health or cognitive disabilities have a legal pathway to keep animals that provide necessary therapeutic support.
  • Clarifies that emotional support animals do not need to be specially trained or certified, making it more accessible and affordable for low-income individuals to obtain the support they need without paying for expensive animal training.
  • Protects tenants from being charged extra compensation or pet fees for having a service dog, which helps reduce housing costs for individuals with disabilities.
  • Imposes strict medical documentation hurdles, such as requiring a 30-day existing relationship with a Rhode Island-licensed practitioner, which could create significant barriers for new residents or low-income tenants who lack regular healthcare access.
  • Allows landlords to deny an emotional support animal if it causes a substantial increase in insurance premiums, potentially prioritizing corporate insurance interests over the mental health and housing rights of vulnerable tenants.
  • Requires healthcare practitioners to sign documentation under the penalty of perjury, which may deter doctors and therapists from writing legitimate support letters out of fear of legal liability, thereby reducing access to ESAs for those in need.
For Conservatives
  • Protects the property rights and financial interests of landlords by allowing them to deny emotional support animals that pose a threat of damage or negatively impact their property insurance policies.
  • Implements strict verification requirements for emotional support animals, including sworn statements under penalty of perjury, which helps prevent fraud and abuse of the accommodation system by tenants trying to bypass standard pet rules.
  • Explicitly holds tenants financially liable for any damage caused to the premises or other people by their emotional support or service animals, ensuring property owners do not bear the costs of animal-related destruction.
  • Mandates that landlords must consider and potentially accept emotional support animals, imposing government regulations on private property owners and restricting their freedom to enforce blanket "no pets" policies.
  • Creates additional administrative burdens for landlords who must now process accommodation requests, review medical documentation, and assess insurance impacts rather than freely managing their rental units.
  • Allows landlords to face potential legal disputes or housing discrimination complaints if they deny an emotional support animal, increasing their exposure to costly litigation and government oversight.

Votes

Loading votes...

Full Bill Text

3 versions
Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 46 additions · 8 deletions

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 any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, of any prospective purchaser, occupant, or tenant of the housing accommodation; directly or indirectly, refuse to sell, rent, lease, let, or otherwise deny to or withhold from any individual the housing accommodation because of 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, disability, age, or familial status of the individual or 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, or familial status of any person with whom the individual is or may wish to be associated; or shall, or on the basis that 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 that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking, relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse. Nor shall an 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, directly or indirectly, issue any advertisement relating to the sale, rental, or lease of the housing accommodation that indicates any preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination based upon 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, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that 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 that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, or shall, directly or indirectly, discriminate against any individual because of his or her 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, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that 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 that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale, rental, or lease of any housing accommodation or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection with it. Nor shall an 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, directly or indirectly, misrepresent the availability of a housing accommodation or delay the processing of applications relating to the sale, rental, or lease of the housing accommodation based upon an individual’s 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, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that 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 that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any oral or written inquiry as to whether the prospective purchaser or tenant is eighteen (18) years of age or older, or to confirm the source, amount, and expected duration of the lawful source of income of the prospective purchaser or tenant to determine whether the prospective purchaser or tenant meets the nondiscriminatory standards and preferences or terms, conditions, limitations, or specifications permitted under subsection (c) of this section.

(b) No person to whom application is made for a loan or other form of financial assistance for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair, or maintenance of any housing accommodation, whether secured or unsecured, 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, 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, disability, age, familial status, or any express written or oral inquiry into 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 any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, of any individual seeking the financial assistance, or of existing or prospective occupants or tenants of the housing accommodation; nor shall any person to whom the application is made in the manner provided, directly or indirectly, discriminate in the terms, conditions, or privileges relating to the obtaining or use of any financial assistance against any applicant because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, 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, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that 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 that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, of the applicant or of the existing or prospective occupants or tenants. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit any written or oral inquiry as to whether the applicant is over the age of eighteen (18).

(c) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed in any manner to prohibit or limit the exercise of the privilege of every person and the agent of any person having the right to sell, rent, lease, or manage a housing accommodation to establish standards and preferences and set terms, conditions, limitations, or specifications in the selling, renting, leasing, or letting thereof or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection therewith that do not discriminate on the basis of 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, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that 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 that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, of any prospective purchaser, lessee, tenant, or occupant thereof or on 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, disability, age, or familial status of any person with whom the prospective purchaser, lessee, tenant, or occupant is or may wish to be associated. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed in any manner to prohibit or limit the exercise of the privilege of every person and the agent of any person making loans for, or offering financial assistance in, the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair, or maintenance of housing accommodations to set standards and preferences, terms, conditions, limitations, or specifications for the granting of loans or financial assistance that do not discriminate on the basis of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, 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, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that 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 that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, of the applicant for the loan or financial assistance or of any existing or prospective owner, lessee, tenant, or occupant of the housing accommodation. If a landlord requires that a prospective or current tenant have a certain minimum level of income, the standard for assessing eligibility shall be based only on the portion of the rent to be paid by the tenant, taking into account the value of any federal, state, or local rental assistance or housing subsidy.

(d) An owner may not refuse to allow a person with a disability to make, at his or her expense, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by the person if the modifications may be necessary to afford the person full enjoyment of the premises, except that, in the case of a rental, the owner may, where it is reasonable to do so, condition permission for a modification on the renter agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before the modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted. Where it is necessary in order to ensure with reasonable certainty that funds will be available to pay for the restorations at the end of the tenancy, the landlord may negotiate as part of the restoration agreement a provision requiring that the tenant pay into an interest bearing escrow account, over a reasonable period, a reasonable amount of money not to exceed the cost of the restorations. The interest in the account shall accrue to the benefit of the tenant. The restoration deposition shall be exempt from § 34-18-19(a) but will be subject to § 34-18-19(b) through (f) inclusive. (e)(1) An owner may not refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services when those accommodations may be necessary to afford an occupant with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.

(2) Every person with a disability who has a guide dog or other personal assistive service animal, or who obtains a guide dog or other personal assistive service animal, shall be entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations provided for in this section and shall not be required to pay extra compensation for the guide dog or other personal assistive service animal but shall be liable for any damage done to the premises by a guide dog or other personal assistive service animal. For the purposes of this subsection, a “personal assistive service animal” is an animal specifically trained by a certified animal training program to assist a person with a disability to perform independent living tasks a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. These task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability. (3)(i) A tenant with a disability or disability-related need for an emotional support animal may request and be approved by a landlord to keep an emotional support animal as a reasonable accommodation in housing. For the purpose of this section, “emotional support animal” means a domesticated animal that is traditionally kept in the home for pleasure rather than commercial purposes that provides emotional, cognitive, or other similar support to an individual with a disability, and does not need to be trained or certified.

(ii) Unless otherwise prohibited by federal law, rule, or regulation, a landlord may deny a reasonable accommodation request for an emotional support animal if the animal poses a direct threat to the safety or health of others or poses a direct threat of physical damage to the property that cannot be reduced or eliminated by another reasonable accommodation, or if allowing the animal to be kept on premises would result in the cancelation of the property insurance. or a substantial increase of the insurance premiums imposing an undue burden on the landlord.

(iii) If a tenant’s disability-related need for an emotional support animal is not readily apparent, the landlord may request supporting documentation that reasonably supports the tenant’s need for the particular emotional support animal. Supporting documentation may consist of documentation from a healthcare practitioner who has personal knowledge of the tenant’s disability and is acting within the scope of the practitioner’s practice, and identifies the particular assistance or therapeutic value provided by the requested animal.

(iv) Subject to the provisions of subsection (e)(3)(ii) of this section no landlord shall prohibit the keeping of an emotional support animal on the rented premises if:

(A) The documentation supporting the tenant's need for the emotional support animal comes from a Rhode Island licensed healthcare practitioner; and

(B) The healthcare practitioner has provided a clinical evaluation of the individual regarding the need for the emotional support animal; and

(C) The healthcare practitioner has established a patient-practitioner relationship for at least thirty (30) days prior to providing the documentation requested regarding the individuals need for an emotional support animal; and

(D) The healthcare practitioner has made a written affirmation of the supporting documentation in this subsection under the pains and penalties of perjury.

(E) Notwithstanding any provision herein, nothing shall prevent a landlord from granting an accommodation that may not comply with all of the requirements of this section.

(v) A tenant with a disability-related need for an emotional support animal is liable for any damage done to the premises or to another person on the premises by the tenant's emotional support animal.

(f) Any housing accommodation of four (4) units or more constructed for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, shall be designed and constructed in such a manner that:

(1) The public use and common use portions of the dwellings are readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities;

(2) All the doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises within the dwellings are sufficiently wide to allow passage by persons with disabilities in wheelchairs;

(3) All premises within the dwellings contain the following features of adaptive design:

(i) Accessible route into and through the dwelling;

(ii) Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations;

(iii) Reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; and

(iv) Usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space. To the extent that any state or local building codes, statutes, or ordinances are inconsistent with this section, they are hereby repealed. The state building code standards committee is hereby directed to adopt rules and regulations consistent with this section as soon as possible, but no later than September 30, 1990.

(g) Compliance with the appropriate requirements of the state building code 14 “accessibility for individuals with disabilities for residential use groups” suffices to satisfy the requirements of subsection (f) of this section.

(h) As used in subsection (f) of this section, the term “housing accommodation of four (4) units or more” means:

(1) Buildings consisting of four (4) or more units if those buildings have one or more elevators; and

(2) Ground floor units in other buildings consisting of four (4) or more units.

(i) Nothing in subsection (f) of this section shall be construed to limit any law, statute, or regulation that requires a greater degree of accessibility to persons with disabilities.

(j) Nothing in this section requires that a dwelling be made available to an individual whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals or whose tenancy would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others.

(k) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit an owner, lessee, sublessee, or assignee from advertising or selecting a person of the same or opposite gender to rent, lease, or share the housing unit that the owner, lessee, sublessee, or assignee will occupy with the person selected.

(l) No person shall aid, abet, incite, compel, or coerce the doing of any act declared by this section to be an unlawful housing practice; or obstruct or prevent any person from complying with the provisions of this chapter or any order issued thereunder; or attempt directly or indirectly to commit any act declared by this section to be an unlawful housing practice.

(m) No owner; person defined in § 34-37-3(13); person to whom application is made for a loan or other form of financial assistance for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair, or maintenance of any housing accommodation, whether secured or unsecured; no financial organization governed by the provisions of title 19 or any other credit-granting commercial institution; or respondent under this chapter; or any agent of these shall discriminate in any manner against any individual because he or she has opposed any practice forbidden by this chapter, or because he or she has made a charge, testified, or assisted in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this chapter.

(n) Nothing in this section shall prevent a landlord from proceeding with eviction action against a tenant who fails to comply with § 34-18-24(7).

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.