AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- EXECUTIVE CLIMATE CHANGE COORDINATING COUNCIL -- MANDATORY ACT ON CLIMATE COMPLIANCE IN STATE BUDGETING AND PLANNING (Requires that state departments and agencies integrate the recommendations contained in the act on climate strategy report.)

H7917

2026 -- H 7917
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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 -- EXECUTIVE CLIMATE
CHANGE COORDINATING COUNCIL -- MANDATORY ACT ON CLIMATE
COMPLIANCE IN STATE BUDGETING AND PLANNING

Introduced By:
Representatives Carson, McGaw, Kislak, Boylan, Knight, Speakman,
Cortvriend, McEntee, Bennett, and Spears

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Environment and Natural Resources
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Legislative findings and purpose.
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(a) The General Assembly finds that:
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(1) The act on climate, chapter 42-6.2 of the general laws, establishes legally binding
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greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for the State of Rhode Island.
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(2) The executive climate change coordinating council (EC4), pursuant to the act on
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climate, finalized the act on climate strategy report in December 2025, identifying sector-specific
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actions necessary to meet those statutory targets.
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(3) Failure to integrate the act on climate strategy report into state budgeting and planning
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undermines compliance with state law and jeopardizes achievement of mandated emissions
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reductions.
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(b) It is therefore the purpose of this act to require mandatory, enforceable integration of
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the act on climate strategy report into state and quasi-public agency budgeting, capital planning,
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and policy development, supported by quantified emissions impact analysis and enforceable review
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standards.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 42-6.2 of the General Laws entitled "2021 Act on Climate" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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42-6.2-8.1. Mandatory act on climate compliance in budgeting, planning, and capital
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investment.

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(a) Applicability. This section shall apply to:
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(1) All state administrative departments, agencies, boards, offices, councils, and
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commissions; and
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(2) All quasi-public agencies, public corporations, and authorities that:
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(i) Receive state appropriations;
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(ii) Submit capital plans or capital budget requests; or
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(iii) Issue debt or bonds subject to state approval or backing.
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(b) Mandatory integration into budgets and plans. Beginning with the fiscal year 2027
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budget cycle, and for each fiscal year thereafter, each entity subject to this section shall integrate
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and implement the applicable recommendations contained in the act on climate strategy report
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finalized by the EC4 in December 2025, as amended or updated pursuant to law, in:
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(1) Annual operating budget requests;
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(2) Capital budget submissions and capital improvement plans;
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(3) Strategic plans, performance plans, and policy planning documents; and
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(4) Any additional planning or investment documents required by the executive office of
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administration or the office of management and budget.
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(c) Quantified emissions impact assessment required.
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(1) Each submission under subsection (b) of this section shall include a quantified
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emissions impact assessment that:
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(i) Estimates the anticipated greenhouse gas emissions impact of the proposed budget,
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program, or capital project using methodologies approved by the EC4 and the office of energy
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resources;
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(ii) Identifies whether the proposal:
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(A) Reduces greenhouse gas emissions;
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(B) Is emissions-neutral; or
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(C) Increases greenhouse gas emissions;
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(iii) Demonstrates consistency with the emissions reduction targets established under § 42-
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6.2-2; and
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(iv) Identifies mitigation measures required to offset any projected emissions increases.
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(2) Narrative descriptions alone shall not satisfy the requirements of this section.
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(d) Act on climate certification — condition of submission. No budget request, capital
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project, or planning document subject to this section shall be deemed complete unless it includes
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an act on climate compliance certification, signed by the agency head or chief executive officer,
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affirming that:

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(1) The submission is consistent with the act on climate strategy report;
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(2) The quantified emissions impact assessment is accurate to the best of the signer’s
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knowledge; and
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(3) The submission advances, and does not materially impede, achievement of the state’s
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statutory emissions reduction targets.
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(e) Enforcement -- budget and capital gatekeeping authority.
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(1) The office of management and budget, in consultation with the executive office of
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administration and the EC4, shall reject or return any budget or capital submission that fails to
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comply with this section.
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(2) No capital project subject to this section shall advance to authorization, bonding, or
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appropriation without a determination of compliance.
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(3) For quasi-public agencies, failure to comply with this section may result in:
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(i) Denial or reduction of state appropriations;
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(ii) Suspension or denial of bond approval; or
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(iii) Deferral of capital project authorization.
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(f) Limited exception process. An entity may request a temporary exception from specific
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recommendations of the act on climate strategy report only if it:
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(1) Demonstrates that compliance is infeasible due to legal, safety, or emergency
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conditions;
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(2) Identifies alternative actions that achieve equivalent or greater emissions reductions;
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and
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(3) Receives written approval from the EC4 and the executive office of administration.
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Exceptions shall be narrowly construed and time limited.
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(g) Public reporting and legislative oversight.
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(1) All act on climate compliance certifications and quantified emissions impact
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assessments shall be posted on the submitting entity’s public website.
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(2) The EC4 shall compile an annual compliance report and submit it to the speaker of the
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house, the president of the senate, and the governor no later than July 1 of each year.
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(3) The house committee on environment and natural resources and the house committee
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on finance may jointly request testimony from any non-compliant entity.
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(h) Severability. If any provision of this section or the application thereof is held invalid,
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such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions.

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SECTION 3. 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 -- EXECUTIVE CLIMATE
CHANGE COORDINATING COUNCIL -- MANDATORY ACT ON CLIMATE
COMPLIANCE IN STATE BUDGETING AND PLANNING
***
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This act would require that state departments and agencies integrate the recommendations
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contained in the act on climate strategy report.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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