R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 6-13.1 § 6-13.1-4
Exemptions
Operative Text
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall apply to actions or transactions permitted under laws administered by the department of business regulation or other regulatory body or officer acting under statutory authority of this state or the United States. (b) For actions brought by the attorney general, the exemption in subsection (a) applies only if the person claiming the exemption shows that: (1) The person's business activities are subject to regulation by a state or federal agency; and (2) The activity or conduct is in compliance with orders, including insurance bulletins, or rules of, or a statute administered by, a federal or state government agency.
Section 6-13.1-4 of Rhode Island's Deceptive Trade Practices Act carves out an exemption for conduct that is already regulated and permitted under state or federal law. When a business's activities fall within the oversight of a recognized regulatory body—such as the Department of Business Regulation—and the conduct complies with that agency's rules, orders, or statutes, the general consumer-protection prohibitions of Chapter 6-13.1 do not apply. However, when the Attorney General brings an action, the exemption is narrower: the business must affirmatively demonstrate both that it is subject to agency regulation and that the specific conduct at issue actually complies with that agency's requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in regulated sectors—such as insurance, banking, or other licensed industries—may find that certain activities are shielded from Chapter 6-13.1 claims under § 6-13.1-4, provided those activities are expressly permitted by the relevant regulatory framework. Compliant operators generally maintain clear documentation showing that their business is subject to a recognized state or federal agency and that the specific conduct in question conforms to that agency's current rules, orders, or statutes. This documentation becomes especially important if the Attorney General initiates an action, since the burden of establishing the exemption shifts to the person claiming it under § 6-13.1-4(b).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 6-13.1-4, a landlord or other party may assert that their conduct is exempt from Rhode Island's Deceptive Trade Practices Act if it falls within a regulated and compliant activity—which can limit the reach of a consumer-protection complaint in some circumstances. Tenants who believe they have experienced deceptive or unfair practices should be aware that this exemption is not automatic; when the Attorney General pursues a case, the business must prove both regulatory oversight and actual compliance under § 6-13.1-4(b). Tenant-rights organizations and the Rhode Island Attorney General's consumer-protection office can be general resources for understanding whether a claimed exemption might apply to a particular type of conduct.
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
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation