2026 -- H 7484

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LC003214

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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:

     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 6.3

BUILDINGS CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTION ACT

     42-6.3-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Buildings Carbon Emissions

Reduction Act".

     42-6.3-2. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) "Building energy needs" means all energy uses including, but not limited to, space

conditioning, heating and cooling, water heating of pools and spas, cooking appliances and clothes

drying appliances.

     (2) "Carbon impact report(s)" means a report, prepared by an independent firm of building

professionals, which may include, but not be limited to, licensed architects or engineers for the

purpose of reviewing the proposed energy uses at the proposed development, and a determination

as to whether the development will meet its building energy needs with one hundred percent (100%)

clean energy usage by the year 2050. For the purposes of this analysis, electricity may be presumed

to be one hundred percent (100%) renewable energy by 2050.

     (3) "Large development(s)" means a proposed development that will be constructed on a

parcel of land that is greater than fifty thousand square feet (50,000 ft2) in size, and that proposes a

building or buildings that will individually or collectively contain more than fifty thousand square

feet (50,000 ft2) of gross building area.

     42-6.3-3. Permits for large developments.

     (a) No city or town shall issue a permit for the construction of any new large development,

if the initial application for such permit was submitted after December 31, 2026, unless the

circumstances set forth in subsection (b) or (c) of this section apply. For purposes of this subsection,

the initial application along with a carbon impact report shall be the first site or building permit

application, associated with the building or project.

     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a city or town may

issue a permit for construction of a large development upon a finding by the permitting body of

such city or town, that constructing a large development which is likely to meet its building energy

needs with one hundred percent (100%) clean energy usage by 2050 is physically or technically

unfeasible and that a modification is warranted. Financial considerations shall not be a sufficient

basis to determine physical or technical infeasibility. Modifications shall only be issued under this

exception where the permitting body finds that:

     (1) Sufficient evidence was submitted to substantiate the infeasibility of an all-electric

building or project design. Such evidence shall show that the building is either:

     (i) Unable to satisfy necessary building code requirements, without the usage of gas or oil

piping systems, fixtures and/or infrastructure; or

     (ii) The building is specifically designated for occupancy by a commercial food service

establishment, and such establishment cannot feasibly operate using commercially available

electric appliances.

     (2) The installation of natural gas or oil piping systems, fixtures and/or infrastructure is

strictly limited to the system and area of the building for which an all-electric building or project

design is infeasible.

     (3) The area or service within the project where gas or oil piping systems, fixtures and/or

infrastructure are installed, is all-electric ready; and

     (4) The project's modified design provides equivalent health, safety and fire protection to

an all-electric building or project design.

     (c) Exemptions. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a city or

town may issue a permit for a large development, in which said building or group of buildings are

for the sole or primary use as a hospital, medical facility, laboratory for biological research or

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restaurant.

     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

***

     This act would require large developments, those to be constructed on a parcel of land that

is greater than fifty thousand square feet (50,000 ft2) in size, and that propose a building or buildings

that will individually or collectively contain more than fifty thousand square feet (50,000 ft2) of

gross building area to provide carbon impact reports as part of the permitting process prior to

approval and issuance of a building permit.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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