2024 -- H 7731 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS

AND SOLUTIONS

     Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Carson, Boylan, Speakman, McGaw,
Fogarty, Kislak, Handy, Azzinaro, and Kennedy

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2024

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island faces significant challenges due to climate

change, including increased frequency of storms, riverine flooding, sea level rise, property losses

and loss of natural resources including beach erosion; and

     WHEREAS, These challenges pose serious economic threats to the State, including loss

of property taxes, increased stormwater management costs, and potential damage to

infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, It is imperative to thoroughly examine the impacts of climate change on the

State and explore potential solutions to mitigate these impacts; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of seventeen (17) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of

Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a Rhode Island Department of Environmental

Management Officer, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the

Director of Statewide Planning, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of Coastal

Resources Management Council, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the Coastal

Resilience and Extension Coastal Resources Center & RI Sea Grant, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a member from the RI Coastal Institute, to be

appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the Institute at

Brown for Environment and Society, or designee; one of whom shall be a representative from the

Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom

shall be a representative from the RI Rivers Council, to be appointed by the Speaker of the

House; one of whom shall be a Tax Assessor from a coastal community, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the League of Cities &

Towns, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the Rhode Island Society of

Environmental Professionals, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be

a member of the Environmental Business Council of New England/RI, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a member of the RI Realtors Association, to be

appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be a member of the RI Builders

Association, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study

commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing

authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator; provided

that, the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader of the political party which is entitled to the

appointment, consents to the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to conduct a comprehensive study on the issues

confronting the State of Rhode Island due to climate change including, but not limited to:

     • Sea level rise and its impacts on coastal municipalities;

     • Riverine flooding and its effects on inland areas and municipalities;

     • Beach erosion and its economic consequences;

     • Loss of property taxes and other revenue streams;

     • Increased costs associated with stormwater management;

     • Infrastructure vulnerabilities to climate-related hazards;

     • Funding mechanisms for implementation of resilience programs;

     • Impact on waterfront property and business owners; and

     In addition, the Commission shall examine various adaptation and mitigation strategies,

including:

     • Beach nourishment projects;

     • Shoreline hardening measures;

     • Managed retreat policies;

     • Implementation of green infrastructure solutions;

     • Collaboration with federal and municipal agencies to address climate-related

challenges; and

     The Commission shall conduct public hearings and solicit input from stakeholders

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including, but not limited to: government agencies, environmental organizations, business

associations, academic institutions, and community groups.

     The Commission shall analyze the economic, environmental, and social implications of

different adaptation and mitigation and resilience strategies, considering both short-term and

long-term impacts, and explore how Rhode Island should administratively organize to meet the

full scope of the challenge.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall prepare a comprehensive final report outlining

its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative action to the Speaker of the House

of Representatives no later than May 14, 2025, and said commission shall expire on June 18,

2025, and said report shall be made available to the public and relevant stakeholders through the

official website of the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

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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 LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS

AND SOLUTIONS

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     This resolution would create a seventeen (17) member special legislative study

commission whose purpose it would be to conduct a comprehensive study on the issues

confronting the State of Rhode Island due to climate change, and who would report back to the

Speaker of the House no later than May 14, 2025, and whose life would expire on June 18, 2025.

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