Repeals the provisions of § 34-7-4 regarding rights of footway being acquired by adverse possession.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would repeal a specific section of Rhode Island law that currently allows people to gain legal rights to walk across someone else's private property simply by doing so openly and continuously for a long period of time. Under the existing law being targeted, if a person regularly uses a footpath or walkway across another person's land — without permission, but also without being stopped — they can eventually claim a legal right to keep using that path. This legal concept is known as "adverse possession" or a "prescriptive easement."

If this bill passes, that pathway to claiming a walking right would no longer exist. Landowners would have stronger control over who can legally use paths on their property, and people who have been regularly crossing private land could no longer use this law to establish a permanent legal right to do so. This change would affect both private property owners and members of the public who have historically relied on informal footpaths crossing private land — such as shortcuts through neighborhoods or access routes to natural areas.

The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which has recommended holding it for further study rather than moving it forward immediately. This means lawmakers want more time to examine the potential consequences before deciding whether to advance it.