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S 2617RHODE ISLANDSession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Rhode Island Bill S 2617 doubles maximum security deposit to two months' rent

Original title: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Adds a provision that allows a tenant to pay the last month's rent or any other prepaid rent. It also increases the amount that a security deposit can be requested from one to two (2) months of rent.)

Last action · April 28, 2026: Committee recommended measure be held for further studySponsors: John Burke and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Rhode Island Senate bill S 2617 allows residential tenants to apply toward their last month's rent and increases the maximum allowable from one month to two months of rent.

Why it matters

Tenants face a larger upfront cash requirement to secure a residential lease, while landlords gain the ability to collect a higher financial buffer against potential damages or unpaid rent.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

residential landlords

Landlords are permitted to collect a larger security deposit of up to two months of rent.

Directly affected

residential tenants

Tenants face higher upfront security deposit requirements but gain explicit statutory permission to apply prepaid rent toward their last month.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit under this bill?

Landlords can request up to two months of rent as a .

Can a tenant use prepaid rent for their last month under this measure?

Yes, the bill adds a provision allowing a tenant to pay the last month's rent or any other .

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.

Procedural history

3 actions

Apr 28, 2026
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Apr 24, 2026
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/28/2026)
Feb 13, 2026Introduced
Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Raptakis, John Burke

PersonRaptakis“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 2617”Map →

PersonJohn Burke“Primary sponsor of Senate Bill 2617”Map →

Sources

Open source document

status.rilegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 50)
Controversy60
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

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