R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 6-13.1 § 6-13.1-6
Assurances of voluntary compliance
Operative Text
In the administration of this chapter, the attorney general may accept an assurance of voluntary compliance with respect to any method, act, or practice deemed to be a violation of the chapter from any person who has engaged or was about to engage in any method, act, or practice. Any assurance shall be in writing and filed with and subject to the approval of the superior court of the county in which the alleged violator shall dwell or have his or her principal place of business, or the superior court of Providence County. The assurance of voluntary compliance shall not be considered an admission of a violation for any purpose. Matters thus closed may be reopened at any time by the attorney general for further proceedings in the public interest pursuant to § 6-13.1-5.
Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-6, Rhode Island's attorney general has the authority to resolve potential consumer-protection violations without formal litigation by accepting a written promise from a person or business to stop or refrain from a questioned practice. This agreement, called an assurance of voluntary compliance, must be approved by the appropriate superior court and does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing. Even after such an assurance is accepted and the matter is considered closed, the attorney general retains the power to reopen it and pursue further action in the public interest.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Rhode Island should be aware that under § 6-13.1-6, the attorney general can approach a business about a suspected violation of the state's consumer-protection chapter and offer to resolve the matter through a written assurance rather than a lawsuit. A compliant operator generally cooperates transparently with any inquiry, ensures that any agreed-upon assurance accurately reflects their business practices, and understands that signing such an assurance does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing but also does not permanently close the matter. Because the attorney general may reopen a closed assurance at any time, operators typically maintain ongoing compliance with the practices described in the agreement.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Rhode Island tenants should know that § 6-13.1-6 gives the state attorney general a flexible enforcement tool: rather than immediately suing a landlord or business for a suspected consumer-protection violation, the attorney general may accept a written, court-approved promise to stop the problematic practice. This means a landlord's conduct could be addressed through this process even without a formal admission of wrongdoing, and the matter can be reopened if violations continue or recur. Tenants who believe a landlord's practices may violate Rhode Island's consumer-protection chapter can report concerns to the attorney general's office or consult a tenant-rights organization to understand what enforcement paths may be available.
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.
Effective Timeline
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation