Title 34
Property

Chapter 37
Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act

R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-5.4

§ 34-37-5.4. Discrimination in residential real estate related transactions.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person or other entity whose business includes engaging in residential real estate-related transactions to discriminate against any person in making available a transaction, or in the terms and conditions of the transaction, because of race, color, religion, 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, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or familial status.

(b) As used in this section, the term “residential real estate-related transaction” means any of the following:

(1) The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance:

(i) For purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling; or

(ii) Secured by residential real estate.

(2) The selling, brokering, or appraising of residential real property.

(c) Nothing in this chapter prohibits a person engaged in the business of furnishing appraisals of real property to take into consideration factors other than race, color, religion, 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, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or familial status.

History of Section.
P.L. 1990, ch. 398, § 2; P.L. 1995, ch. 32, § 2; P.L. 1997, ch. 150, § 8; P.L. 2001, ch. 340, § 2; P.L. 2015, ch. 161, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 180, § 1.