Leader Chippendale: 2026 H7551 - Addresses Title Fraud & Opposes Unfunded Municipal Mandates (51226)

House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale (R District 40 - Coventry, Foster, Glocester) addresses the chamber regarding 2026 H 7551, "An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses -- Fraud & False Dealing."

While Leader Chippendale speaks in favor of the bill's intent to combat real estate and title fraud, he strongly opposes the inclusion of an unfunded mandate. He emphasizes that requiring municipalities to invest in and maintain new property notification systems places an unfair financial burden on local governments, particularly smaller towns that are not as modernized. Standing on principle to protect cities and towns from mandates that could push their budgets past the state's 4% tax cap, Leader Chippendale announces his intention to vote against the legislation.

House Bill No. 7551 as amended
BY Kennedy, Solomon, Kazarian, Azzinaro, Edwards, Corvese, Ackerman, McEntee, Serpa, Cotter
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING (Establishes the criminal offense of real estate title fraud. Allows municipalities to refuse to record “suspicious documents” from persons who are not trusted submitters. Also creates penalties for real estate title fraud.)
{LC4273/1}
» http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7551aa.pdf

House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale
» https://www.rihousegop.org/leaderchippendale.html

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