AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE (Repeals the 2021 Act on Climate which established a statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction mandate in its entirety.)

H7531

2026 -- H 7531
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LC004694
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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 -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE

Introduced By:
Representatives Quattrocchi, Roberts, Place, Newberry, Hopkins,
Santucci, Nardone, Chippendale, and Paplauskas

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
House Environment and Natural Resources
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 42-6.2 of the General Laws entitled "2021 Act on Climate" is hereby
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repealed in its entirety.
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CHAPTER 42-6.2
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2021 Act on Climate
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42-6.2-1. Climate change coordinating council — Creation — Members.
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There is hereby established within the executive branch of state government a Rhode Island
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executive climate change coordinating council (the “council”) comprised of officials from state
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agencies with responsibility and oversight relating to assessing, integrating, and coordinating
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climate change efforts. The council shall include, but not be limited to, the following members: the
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director of the department of environmental management; the executive director of the coastal
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resources management council; the director of the department of administration; the director of the
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department of transportation; the director of the department of health; the director of the emergency
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management agency; the commissioner of the office of energy resources; the director of the
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division of planning; the executive director of the Rhode Island infrastructure bank; the
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administrator of the division of public utilities and carriers; the chief executive officer of the Rhode
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Island public transit authority; the secretary of the executive office of health and human services;
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and the secretary of the Rhode Island commerce corporation.
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42-6.2-2. Purpose of the council.
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(a) The council shall have the following duties:

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(1) Assess, integrate, and coordinate climate change efforts throughout state agencies to
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reduce emissions, strengthen the resilience of communities and infrastructure, and prepare for the
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effects on climate change, including, but not limited to, coordinating vulnerability assessments
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throughout state government;
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(2)(i) No later than December 31, 2025, and every five (5) years thereafter, submit to the
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governor and general assembly an updated plan, following an opportunity for public comment, that
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includes strategies, programs, and actions to meet economy-wide enforceable targets for
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greenhouse gas emissions reductions as follows:
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(A) Ten percent (10%) below 1990 levels by 2020;
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(B) Forty-five percent (45%) below 1990 levels by 2030;
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(C) Eighty percent (80%) below 1990 levels by 2040;
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(D) Net-zero emissions by 2050.
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No action shall be brought pursuant to: subsection (a)(2)(i)(B) of this section before 2031,
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pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(i)(C) of this section before 2041, and pursuant to subsection
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(a)(2)(i)(D) of this section before 2051.
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(ii) The plan shall also include procedures and public metrics for periodic measurement,
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not less frequently than once every five (5) years, of progress necessary to meet these targets and
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for evaluating the possibility of meeting higher targets through cost-effective measures.
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(iii) The plan shall address in writing the annual input that is provided to the council by its
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advisory board, as set forth in § 42-6.2-4, and its science and technical advisory board, as set forth
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in § 42-6.2-5, in their reports to the council.
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(iv) If a plan directs an agency to promulgate regulations, then the agency must do so by
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either issuing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking, as set forth in § 42-35-2.5, no later than
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six (6) months after the plan is released or by issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking, as set forth
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in § 42-35-2.7, no later than one year after the plan is released, unless the plan specifies another
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timeframe for an advance notice of rulemaking or a notice of rulemaking.
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(v) The plan shall include an equitable transition to climate compliance for environmental
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justice populations, redress past environmental and public health inequities, and include a process
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where the interests of and people from populations most vulnerable to the effects of climate change
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and at risk of pollution, displacement, energy burden, and cost influence such plan.
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(vi) The plan shall identify support for workers during this equitable transition to address
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inequity in the state by creating quality and family-sustaining clean energy jobs that pay wages and
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benefits consistent with or that exceed area wage and labor standards. The plan shall provide for
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the development of programs that directly recruit, train, and retain those underrepresented in the

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workforce, including women, people of color, indigenous people, veterans, formerly incarcerated
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people, and people living with disabilities.
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(vii) The requirements under this subsection shall be subject to the enforcement provisions
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of § 42-6.2-10 effective in 2026.
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(viii) No later than December 31, 2022, the council shall submit to the governor and the
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general assembly an update to the greenhouse gas emission’s reduction plan dated “December
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2016” which shall not be subject to the requirements of subsections (a)(2)(ii) through (a)(2)(vi) of
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this section. No action shall be brought pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(viii) of this section before
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2023;
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(3) Advance the state’s understanding of the effects on climate change including, but not
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limited to: sea level rise; coastal and shoreline changes; severe weather events; critical
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infrastructure vulnerability; food security; and ecosystem, economic, and health impacts, including
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the effects of carbon pollution on children’s health;
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(4) Identify strategies to prepare for these effects and communicate them to Rhode
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Islanders, including strategies that incentivize businesses, institutions, and industry to adapt to
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climate change;
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(5) Work with municipalities to support the development of sustainable and resilient
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communities;
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(6) Identify and leverage federal, state, and private funding opportunities for emission
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reduction and climate change preparedness and adaption work in Rhode Island;
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(7) Advise the governor, the general assembly, and the public on ways to ensure that Rhode
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Island continues to be a national leader in developing and implementing strategies that effectively
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address the challenges on climate change;
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(8) Work with other New England states to explore areas of mutual interest to achieve
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common goals; and
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(9) Identify and facilitate opportunities to educate the public about climate change and
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efforts throughout state agencies and municipalities to address climate change.
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(b) The council is encouraged to utilize the expertise of Rhode Island universities and
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colleges in carrying out the duties described in subsection (a) of this section, specifically to ensure
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that the state’s efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change are based on the best available
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scientific and technical information, and to optimize the contribution by the universities and
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colleges of their expertise and experience in research, analysis, modeling, mapping, applications to
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on-the-ground situations, technical assistance, community outreach, and public education.
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42-6.2-3. Support for the council.

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To support the council’s work, state agencies shall:
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(1) Assist the council in implementing the provisions of this chapter;
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(2) Develop short- and long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies and track
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the progress of these strategies;
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(3) Lead by example and, to the maximum extent feasible, purchase alternative fuel, hybrid,
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and electric vehicles that produce lower total emissions of greenhouse gases and develop programs
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to encourage state employees to reduce their vehicle miles and use sustainable transportation
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alternatives, including public transit systems;
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(4) Implement programs to achieve energy savings in state and municipal buildings to
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reduce greenhouse gases, reduce expenditures on energy, and stimulate economic and job
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development;
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(5) Increase the deployment of in-state generation of renewable energy and energy
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efficiency;
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(6) Support efforts to expand Rhode Island’s green economy and develop green
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infrastructure;
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(7) Assess the vulnerability of infrastructure and natural systems, including, but not limited
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to, roads, bridges, dams, and wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities, and riverine and
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coastal habitats, to impacts on climate change and implement strategies to relocate or protect and
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adapt these assets;
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(8) Work with relevant academic institutions and federal agencies to assess the threats of
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sea level rise, erosion, and storm surge, and communicate these assessments and threats, along with
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potential tools to address them, to state agencies and affected communities;
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(9) Develop plans, policies, and solutions based on the latest science to ensure the state
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continues to have a vibrant coastal economy, including protection of critical infrastructure, and a
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vibrant and resilient food system that can provide affordable access to healthy food for all Rhode
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Islanders;
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(10) Address recommendations to reduce health impacts associated with climate change
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and protect the populations most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and at risk of pollution,
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displacement, energy burden, and cost;
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(11) Encourage municipalities to incorporate climate change adaptation into local hazard
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mitigation plans and, when feasible, into hazard mitigation projects;
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(12) Take affirmative steps to eliminate and avoid duplication of effort through consistent
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coordination between agencies and programs, and pooling of resources, so as to make the most
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cost-efficient use of the state resources and provide the most effective services; and

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(13) Foster public transparency by developing public metrics and an online public
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dashboard that shall track both emissions reductions and sources of energy consumed by the state.
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The metrics and the dashboard shall be updated at least annually.
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42-6.2-3.1. Funding for the council.
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There is hereby established a restricted receipt account in the general fund of the state and
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housed in the budget of the department of administration entitled “RGGI-executive climate change
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coordinating council projects.” The express purpose of this account is to record receipts and
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expenditures allocated pursuant to § 23-82-6(a)(7) and (a)(8). The state budget officer is hereby
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authorized to create restricted receipt sub-accounts in any department of state government that
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receives such funding as directed by the executive climate change coordinating council.
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The Rhode Island executive climate change coordinating council shall report annually to
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the governor and general assembly within one hundred twenty (120) days of the end of each
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calendar year how the funds were used to achieve the statutory objectives of the 2021 Act on
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Climate.
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42-6.2-4. Advisory board established — Members.
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(a) The Rhode Island executive climate change coordinating council advisory board is
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hereby established. The advisory board shall have fourteen (14) members. Six (6) members shall
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be appointed by the governor, four (4) of whom shall be representatives of city or town government,
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at least one of whom shall be from a city with a population of over fifty thousand (50,000) and one
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of whom shall be of a town with a population of less than fifty thousand (50,000), one of whom
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shall be from an organization representing or serving low-income and/or minority communities,
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and one member of the public with expertise in, and representing the interests of, environmental
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justice.
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Four (4) members shall be appointed by the president of the senate, who shall give due
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consideration to appointing persons with expertise in economic policy and/or workforce
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development; protection of natural and cultural resources management; energy planning and
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development; and engineering and design. Four (4) members shall be appointed by the speaker of
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the house, who shall give due consideration to appointing persons with expertise in education;
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public health and safety; housing; or from organizations representing or serving youth or the
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elderly.
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(b) The members of the advisory board shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years;
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provided, however, that, with regard to the initial appointments, four (4) members shall be
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appointed for terms of one year; five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years;
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and five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Members may be reappointed,

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and their appointments shall continue until their successors are appointed. The term of a member
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representing a city or town shall end when the member no longer holds an elected or appointed
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position in the city or town the member was representing. A vacancy other than by expiration shall
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be filled in the manner of the original appointment, but only for the unexpired portion of the term.
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(c) The members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation.
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(d) The governor shall appoint a chairperson; a vice-chairperson and secretary shall be
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elected annually by the advisory board members. All officers of the advisory board shall serve until
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their successors have been duly appointed or elected.
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(e) The advisory board shall meet at least quarterly or at the call of the chairperson of the
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council. The chairperson of the council, or the chairperson’s designee, shall be present for all
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advisory board meetings.
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(f) The advisory board shall have the following purposes and duties:
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(1) Advise the council on all matters pertaining to the duties and powers of the council,
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including evaluating and making recommendations regarding plans, programs, and strategies
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relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation;
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(2) Assist the council in improving public access to, and understanding of, the best
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available scientific, technical, and other information about climate change, mitigation, adaptation,
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etc., so as to build public support for, and participation in, initiatives to make communities more
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resilient;
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(3) Serve as a conduit for communicating information from the council to communities and
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constituencies, as well as vice versa, for input from the community level to the council;
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(4) Assist the council in meeting its own transparency and accountability obligations;
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(5) Report to the council at each regular council meeting; and
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(6) Prepare an annual report, to be included in the annual report of the council, that
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specifically addresses the state of public awareness and engagement; the effectiveness of
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mitigation, adaptation and public information programs from the community perspective; the
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ability of the council to attain its goals and objectives, including effective interagency coordination
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and public-private partnerships; and actions that would further the purposes of the council and this
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legislation.
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(g) For purposes of this section, “environmental justice” means the fair treatment and
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meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, English proficiency,
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or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental
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laws, regulations, and policies.
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42-6.2-5. Science and technical advisory board established — Members.

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(a) The Rhode Island executive climate change council science and technical advisory
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board is hereby established. The science and technical advisory board shall have nine (9) members,
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appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Four (4) members shall be
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from institutions of higher education in the state; two (2) shall be from research laboratories located
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in the state; and three (3) shall be from state agencies with expertise in, and responsibility for,
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addressing issues pertaining to climate change.
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(b) The members of the science and technical advisory board shall be appointed for terms
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of three (3) years; provided, however, that, with regard to the initial appointments, three (3)
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members shall be appointed for terms of one year; three (3) members shall be appointed for a term
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of two (2) years; and three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Members
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may serve not more than three (3) successive terms and their appointments shall continue until their
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successors are appointed. A vacancy other than by expiration shall be filled in the manner of the
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original appointment, but only for the unexpired portion of the term.
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(c) Members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation.
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(d) The governor shall appoint a chairperson; a vice-chairperson and secretary shall be
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elected annually by the advisory board members. All officers of the advisory board shall serve until
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their successors have been duly appointed or elected.
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(e) The advisory board shall meet at least quarterly or at the call of the chairperson of the
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council.
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(f) The advisory board shall have the following purposes and duties:
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(1) Keep the executive climate change council abreast of important developments in
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scientific and technical information relating to climate change and resiliency;
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(2) Explore and advise the council regarding opportunities to provide timely support for
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key policy and management decisions by aligning academic research around issues of climate
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change and resiliency;
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(3) Inventory the scientific and technical work being done by public-and private-sector
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entities, and evaluate options to coordinate or integrate/consolidate such work in order to achieve
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greater efficiency, save resources, and provide better services;
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(4) Make recommendations and provide policy advice to the council regarding research
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needs and priorities, resource allocation, and funding opportunities;
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(5) Assist the council in communicating scientific and technical information to key user
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groups and the general public; and
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(6) Prepare an annual report, to be included in the annual report of the council, evaluating
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to what extent the state’s policies and programs aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change

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are supported by the best available science and technical information.
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42-6.2-6. Open government requirements.
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The council and advisory board shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 46 of this title
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(the open meetings act) and chapter 2 of title 38 (the access to public records act). Any rules and
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regulations, or any amendments to rules and regulations, to carry out the requirements of this
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chapter shall be adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 35 of this title (the
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administrative procedures act).
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42-6.2-7. Reporting.
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No later than May 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, the council shall issue a report of its
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findings, recommendations, and progress on achieving the purposes and requirements of this
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chapter.
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42-6.2-8. Powers and duties of state agencies — Exercise of existing authority.
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Addressing the impacts on climate change shall be deemed to be within the powers, duties,
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and obligations of all state departments, agencies, commissions, councils, and instrumentalities,
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including quasi-public agencies, and each shall exercise among its purposes in the exercise of its
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existing authority, the purposes set forth in this chapter pertaining to climate change mitigation,
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adaptation, and resilience in so far as climate change affects its mission, duties, responsibilities,
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projects, or programs. Each agency shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations
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necessary to meet the greenhouse gas emission reduction mandate established by § 42-6.2-9.
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42-6.2-9. Statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction mandate.
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Mandatory targets for emissions reduction:
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It is hereby established that the state shall reduce its statewide greenhouse gas emissions
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to the targets set forth in § 42-6.2-2(a)(2)(i), as those targets may from time to time be revised, and
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that achieving those targets shall be mandatory under the provisions of this chapter. The targets at
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the time of the enactment of this act [April 10, 2021] are that greenhouse gas emissions shall be ten
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percent (10%) below 1990 levels by 2020, shall be forty-five percent (45%) below 1990 levels by
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2030; eighty percent (80%) below 1990 levels by 2040, and shall be net-zero emissions by 2050.
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42-6.2-10. Enforcement.
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(a) The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by means of an action in the superior
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court seeking either injunctive relief, a declaratory judgment, a writ of mandamus, or any
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combination thereof, for:
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(1) Climate plans required by § 42-6.2-2(a)(2); or
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(2) The greenhouse gas emissions reduction mandate required by § 42-6.2-9.
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(b) No such action may be commenced without the plaintiff providing written notice of the

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violations of this chapter to defendants at least sixty (60) days prior to filing a legal action in
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superior court. Where the defendant is a government entity, no costs or fees shall be awarded if a
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court determines that substantive action was taken during the sixty-day (60) period. No such action
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shall be brought before 2026.
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(c) Unless otherwise authorized in this chapter, no such action shall be brought prior to
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2026.
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(d) Venue for such actions shall be proper in the superior court.
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(e) The Rhode Island attorney general, any Rhode Island resident, and any Rhode Island
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corporation, company, organization, nonprofit, or other Rhode Island legal entity or organization
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registered with the Rhode Island secretary of state may bring a civil action to enforce this chapter.
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(f) The court may award costs of litigation (including reasonable attorney and expert
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witness fees) to any substantially prevailing party. Provided, however, nothing in this section shall
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restrict any right that any person (or class of persons) may have under any statute or common law.
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42-6.2-11. Liberal construction.
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This chapter, being necessary for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants, shall be
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liberally construed so as to effectuate its purposes.
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42-6.2-12. Severability.
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If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this chapter shall be adjudged by any
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court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, that judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate
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the remainder of the chapter but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph,
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section, or part directly involved in the controversy in which that judgment shall have been
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rendered.
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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 -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE
***
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This act would repeal the 2021 Act on Climate which established a statewide greenhouse
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gas emission reduction mandate in its entirety.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004694
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