Environment

passed · Rhode Island · House Apr 3, 2026

HB 7738: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

Establishes a moratorium on changes to the state energy conservation code from the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code until January 1, 2031, unless approved by the legislature and made effective by the governor.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyMoratorium on energy code updates prevents stronger conservation standards, restricting progress toward efficiency goals.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentMoratorium blocks updates to energy conservation code, preventing stricter environmental standards and conservation requirements until 2031.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Conservation

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 7530: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

Exempts homes under two thousand (2,000) square feet from automatic statewide IECC energy mandates, allowing municipalities to decide whether to adopt climate-focused building code requirements for small and modest homes.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExempts small homes from statewide IECC energy mandates, weakening uniform climate-focused building code requirements by allowing municipalities to opt out.92% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts small homes from automatic IECC energy mandates, weakening statewide climate-focused building code requirements and allowing municipalities to opt out of environmental standards.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts small homes from energy mandates, reducing construction costs and potentially enabling more affordable housing development by easing regulatory burdens.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7174: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS

HB 7174 repeals a 0.3 mills per kilowatt-hour charge on electricity that funded renewable energy programs in Rhode Island, ending this specific funding mechanism effective December 31, 2028. The bill directly affects electric distribution companies, which previously collected this fee to support renewable energy initiatives like solar installations and energy efficiency projects. This change removes a dedicated funding source for renewable energy programs without altering separate demand-side management charges for energy efficiency or gas utility programs. The repeal simplifies utility billing by eliminating this specific renewable energy funding stream.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals renewable energy funding mechanism, ending dedicated revenue for solar/efficiency programs effective 2028, directly defunding renewable initiatives.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals 0.3 mills/kWh fee funding renewable energy programs (solar, efficiency), ending dedicated financial support effective 2028.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy Solar

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7177: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- MORATORIUM ON NET METERING, LONG-TERM CONTRACTS AND SUBSIDIES FOR HEAT PUMPS

HB 7177 places a moratorium on new or renewed net metering contracts (which allow solar power customers to sell excess electricity back to the grid), long-term contracts (over five years) for purchasing solar or wind energy, and state subsidies for heat pump installations. This bill directly affects residential solar customers, utilities, and homeowners seeking heat pump incentives by prohibiting these programs starting January 1, 2027. Key provisions ban state-funded heat pump subsidies, prevent new solar/wind energy procurement contracts exceeding five years, and halt all new net metering agreements under state law. The law suspends these specific energy programs without altering broader renewable energy policies.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill bans state subsidies for heat pumps and prohibits new renewable energy contracts, directly defunding these programs under fiscal management.90% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBans net metering, solar/wind long-term contracts, and heat pump subsidies - directly restricting renewable energy adoption programs.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBans solar net metering, long-term renewable contracts, and heat pump subsidies - directly restricting clean energy adoption and conservation incentives.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill prohibits state subsidies and new net metering contracts for solar/heat pump technology, restricting renewable energy adoption and funding for these tech solutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Renewable Energy Solar Wind

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died · Rhode Island · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 7150: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS

HB 7150 prevents cities and towns from banning or restricting landscape equipment like leaf blowers, lawn mowers, or trimmers solely based on whether they use gasoline, electricity, batteries, or other power sources. It directly affects municipalities (which cannot enforce such bans) and property owners or businesses using this equipment. The bill allows local governments to still set general noise limits, operating hours for all equipment, or safety rules - but not rules targeting specific fuel types. Existing fuel-based bans in place before the law's effective date remain valid until amended.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrevents municipalities from banning gasoline-powered landscape equipment, allowing continued emissions from polluting devices and weakening local environmental protections.85% confidence

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in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Jan 16, 2026

SB 2080: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE

SB 2080 repeals the entire 2021 Act on Climate, which established Rhode Island's statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and created a Climate Change Council. This repeal directly affects state agencies, the Climate Change Council, and any entities previously required to comply with the law's requirements. The bill removes all specific emission targets (like 45% below 1990 levels by 2030) and the council's duties, including developing climate plans, addressing environmental justice, and tracking progress. It does not create new requirements but eliminates the existing legal framework for climate action. The repeal takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals 2021 Act on Climate, removing greenhouse gas targets and Climate Change Council duties, weakening state clean energy standards.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentSB 2080 repeals emission targets and the Climate Change Council, removing established environmental regulations and duties per the 2021 Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Environmental Justice

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7176: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THE RENEWABLE ENERGY GROWTH PROGRAM

HB 7176 repeals Rhode Island's Renewable Energy Growth Program, which had provided state-financed incentives for renewable energy projects. The program, established to meet climate goals, supported distributed solar and other renewable projects through performance-based incentives over five years, with requirements to protect core forests and prioritize disturbed sites. By eliminating this program, the bill ends the state's specific mechanism for financing and encouraging renewable energy development within electric distribution company load zones. This directly affects electric distribution companies, the Distributed-Generation Board, and future renewable energy developers who would have relied on the program's funding structure.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals Rhode Island's Renewable Energy Growth Program, ending state-financed incentives for renewable projects and eliminating the state's mechanism for encouraging renewable development.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals renewable energy incentives program, eliminating state funding and environmental requirements (forest protection, disturbed site prioritization) for climate goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar

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