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3/18/2026
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Committee to hear Morales bill to limit assisted living facilities charging rent to families after loved ones die
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STATE HOUSE — Legislation introduced by Rep. David Morales to prevent assisted living facilities from charging additional rent to families after a loved one’s death will be heard in committee Thursday.
Most assisted living facilities in Rhode Island use landlord tenant agreements with their residents that include a 30-day notice requirement to end a lease. This can leave families on the hook for thousands of dollars in rent when a loved one passes away.
This was the experience of Eileen Bellemore and her family.
“My father, Joseph P. Hart, was a lifelong Rhode Island resident and decorated federal agent,” Bellemore said. “He passed away on July 24, 2025, just seven days after moving into Lighthouse at Lincoln. We had paid $19,565.93 in advance for the second half of July and all of August, nearly all of it for time after his death.”
Despite removing his belongings within a week, Bellemore said the facility denied their request for a refund.
“The executive director told us ‘one thousand percent’ a refund was warranted, but our written request was denied, citing the facility’s 30-day notice policy,” said Bellemore.
Representative Morales worked with the Bellemore family to introduce legislation to protect families like theirs across the state.
“It is morally wrong to place the burden of additional rent and fees on a grieving family,” said Representative Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence). “Nursing homes and assisted living facilities know that they are working with vulnerable groups of people who may pass away during their stay, making the policy to maintain a 30-day notice requirement even in the case of a death clearly inappropriate. Now is the time to follow the lead of our neighbors in Connecticut and New Hampshire and support our grieving families.”
Representative Morales’ bill (2026-H 7929) would allow facilities to bill for no more than seven days after a resident’s death or until the resident’s belongings have been removed.
Connecticut and New Hampshire already have similar laws on the books and Massachusetts is considering similar legislation this session.
The bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Health and Human Services Committee tomorrow, Thursday, March 19, at the rise of the House, sometime after 4:30 p.m. in Room 101 on the first floor of the State House.
Sen. Jacob E. Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence) has introduced companion legislation (2026-S 2566) in the Senate, which has not yet set a hearing date.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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