AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- BUILDINGS CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTION ACT (Requires large developments, those to be constructed on a parcel of land that is greater than 50,000 square feet in size provide carbon impact reports as part of the permitting process prior to approval and issuance of a building permit.)

H7484

2026 -- H 7484
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- BUILDINGS CARBON
EMISSIONS REDUCTION ACT

Introduced By:
Representative Lauren H. Carson

Date Introduced:
February 04, 2026

Referred To:
House Environment and Natural Resources
(by request)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND
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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 6.3
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BUILDINGS CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTION ACT
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42-6.3-1. Short title.

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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Buildings Carbon Emissions
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Reduction Act".
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42-6.3-2. Definitions.

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As used in this chapter:
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(1) "Building energy needs" means all energy uses including, but not limited to, space
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conditioning, heating and cooling, water heating of pools and spas, cooking appliances and clothes
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drying appliances.
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(2) "Carbon impact report(s)" means a report, prepared by an independent firm of building
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professionals, which may include, but not be limited to, licensed architects or engineers for the
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purpose of reviewing the proposed energy uses at the proposed development, and a determination
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as to whether the development will meet its building energy needs with one hundred percent (100%)
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clean energy usage by the year 2050. For the purposes of this analysis, electricity may be presumed
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to be one hundred percent (100%) renewable energy by 2050.

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(3) "Large development(s)" means a proposed development that will be constructed on a
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parcel of land that is greater than fifty thousand square feet (50,000 ft2) in size, and that proposes a
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building or buildings that will individually or collectively contain more than fifty thousand square
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feet (50,000 ft2) of gross building area.
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42-6.3-3. Permits for large developments.

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(a) No city or town shall issue a permit for the construction of any new large development,
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if the initial application for such permit was submitted after December 31, 2026, unless the
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circumstances set forth in subsection (b) or (c) of this section apply. For purposes of this subsection,
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the initial application along with a carbon impact report shall be the first site or building permit
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application, associated with the building or project.
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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a city or town may
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issue a permit for construction of a large development upon a finding by the permitting body of
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such city or town, that constructing a large development which is likely to meet its building energy
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needs with one hundred percent (100%) clean energy usage by 2050 is physically or technically
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unfeasible and that a modification is warranted. Financial considerations shall not be a sufficient
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basis to determine physical or technical infeasibility. Modifications shall only be issued under this
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exception where the permitting body finds that:
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(1) Sufficient evidence was submitted to substantiate the infeasibility of an all-electric
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building or project design. Such evidence shall show that the building is either:
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(i) Unable to satisfy necessary building code requirements, without the usage of gas or oil
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piping systems, fixtures and/or infrastructure; or
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(ii) The building is specifically designated for occupancy by a commercial food service
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establishment, and such establishment cannot feasibly operate using commercially available
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electric appliances.
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(2) The installation of natural gas or oil piping systems, fixtures and/or infrastructure is
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strictly limited to the system and area of the building for which an all-electric building or project
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design is infeasible.
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(3) The area or service within the project where gas or oil piping systems, fixtures and/or
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infrastructure are installed, is all-electric ready; and
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(4) The project's modified design provides equivalent health, safety and fire protection to
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an all-electric building or project design.
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(c) Exemptions. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a city or
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town may issue a permit for a large development, in which said building or group of buildings are
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for the sole or primary use as a hospital, medical facility, laboratory for biological research or

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restaurant.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- BUILDINGS CARBON
EMISSIONS REDUCTION ACT
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This act would require large developments, those to be constructed on a parcel of land that
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is greater than fifty thousand square feet (50,000 ft2) in size, and that propose a building or buildings
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that will individually or collectively contain more than fifty thousand square feet (50,000 ft2) of
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gross building area to provide carbon impact reports as part of the permitting process prior to
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approval and issuance of a building permit.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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