R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-37 § 34-37-10
Severability
Operative Text
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall, for any reason, be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, that judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this chapter or its application to other persons or circumstances.
Section 34-37-10 of Rhode Island's fair housing law establishes a severability rule, meaning that if any individual part of Chapter 34-37 is struck down or found invalid by a court, the rest of the chapter continues to operate as if the invalidated portion never existed. The ruling applies only to the specific clause, sentence, or paragraph at issue and does not ripple outward to undermine the broader statute. This is a standard legal safeguard designed to preserve as much of the law as possible when any one piece is successfully challenged.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 34-37 can take note that § 34-37-10 protects the overall integrity of the chapter's requirements. Even if a court were to invalidate one specific provision, compliant operators generally continue to follow the remaining obligations of the chapter without interruption. Understanding this severability clause helps property managers recognize that their compliance obligations under the broader fair housing framework remain in force regardless of isolated legal challenges to individual provisions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-37-10 provides tenants with the assurance that Rhode Island's fair housing protections under Chapter 34-37 are designed to remain intact even if a court invalidates one specific part of the law. This means that rights and remedies established elsewhere in the chapter are not automatically eliminated by a successful legal challenge to a single provision. Tenants who believe their rights under Chapter 34-37 have been violated may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand which protections remain applicable to their situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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