HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A PERMANENT COMMISSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND SOLUTIONS (Establishes a permanent commission on climate change impacts and solutions.)

H7344

2026 -- H 7344
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LC003190
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A PERMANENT COMMISSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND
SOLUTIONS

Introduced By:
Representatives Cortvriend, Spears, and Boylan

Date Introduced:
January 28, 2026

Referred To:
House Environment and Natural Resources
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WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island faces significant challenges due to climate
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change, including increased frequency of storms, riverine flooding, sea level rise, property losses
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and loss of natural resources including beach erosion; and
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WHEREAS, These challenges pose serious economic threats to the State, including loss
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of property taxes, increased stormwater management costs, and potential damage to
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infrastructure; and
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WHEREAS, It is imperative to thoroughly and continuously examine the impacts of
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climate change on the State and explore potential solutions to mitigate these impacts; now,
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therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That a permanent legislative commission on climate change impacts and
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solutions be and the same is hereby created consisting of eighteen (18) members:
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Three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, not more than two
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(2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall
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be a Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Officer, to be appointed by the
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Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of Statewide Planning, or designee; one
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of whom shall be the Director of the Coastal Resources Management Council, or designee; one of
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whom shall be a member of the Coastal Resilience and Extension Coastal Resources Center & RI
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Sea Grant, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a member from the
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RI Coastal Institute, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the

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Director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, or designee; one of whom shall
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be a representative from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, to be appointed by the Speaker of
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the House; one of whom shall be a representative from the RI Rivers Council, to be appointed by
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the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a Tax Assessor from a coastal community, to be
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appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the
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League of Cities & Towns, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the Rhode Island
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Society of Environmental Professionals, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of
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whom shall be a member of the Environmental Business Council of New England/RI, to be
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appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a member of the RI Realtors
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Association, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a member of the
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RI Builders Association, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be
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a representative from a geotechnical, environmental management firm, to be appointed by the
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Speaker of the House.
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In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study
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commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing
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authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator; provided
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that, the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader of the political party which is entitled to the
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appointment, consents to the member of the general public.
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The purpose of said commission shall be to conduct a continuous, ongoing, and
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comprehensive study on the issues confronting the State of Rhode Island due to climate change
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including, but not limited to:
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(1) Sea level rise and its impacts on coastal municipalities;
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(2) Riverine flooding and its effects on inland areas and municipalities;
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(3) Beach erosion and its economic consequences;
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(4) Loss of property taxes and other revenue streams;
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(5) Increased costs associated with stormwater management;
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(6) Infrastructure vulnerabilities to climate-related hazards;
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(7) Funding mechanisms for implementation of resilience programs;
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(8) Impacts on waterfront property and business owners.
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In addition, the Commission shall examine various adaptation and mitigation strategies,
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including:
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(1) Beach nourishment projects;
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(2) Shoreline hardening measures;
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(3) Managed retreat policies;

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(4) Implementation of green infrastructure solutions; and
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(5) Collaboration with federal and municipal agencies to address climate-related
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challenges.
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RESOLVED, The Commission shall conduct public hearings and solicit input from
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stakeholders including, but not limited to: government agencies, environmental organizations,
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business associations, academic institutions, and community groups.
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The Commission shall analyze the economic, environmental, and social implications of
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different adaptation and mitigation and resilience strategies, considering both short-term and
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long-term impacts, and explore how Rhode Island should administratively organize to meet the
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full scope of the challenge.
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Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet
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at the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson.
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Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
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The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
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All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,
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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or
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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.
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The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters
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for the commission.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A PERMANENT COMMISSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND
SOLUTIONS
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This House resolution would establish a permanent commission on climate change
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impacts and solutions.
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