H5674 prohibits landlords from asking prospective or current tenants about their immigration status, except where federal laws or regulations require it. The bill still allows landlords to request financial information or proof of identity, but it bars immigration-status questions in the normal rental process.
The Rhode Island State House of Representatives passed H5674 on June 16, 2025 by a vote of 70 to 1. We have assigned pluses to the nays because illegal migration is, by definition, a crime. This bill denies landlords relevant information they may wish to consider when screening tenants, while extending special protection to those who are in the country illegally, grossly violating property rights protected by the Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Amendments of the U.S Constitution. In doing so, it undermines the rule of law, discourages accountability, and moves Rhode Island further toward a sanctuary-style housing policy. Rather than shielding unlawful presence from scrutiny, state lawmakers should support policies that uphold the law, protect U.S. citizens, and respect the constitutional framework under which immigration policy is to be enforced.
