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H 7998Energy Efficiency

State Affairs and Government - 2021 Act on Climate

This bill requires the Governor to explain how the annual state budget helps achieve Rhode Island's climate change goals.

Held for study
Population
Affected
45
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House State Government & Elections

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends Rhode Island's "2021 Act on Climate" to add a specific requirement for the Governor during the state's annual budget process. Under this bill, when the Governor presents proposed budget articles for a fiscal year, they must explicitly explain the climate considerations that were taken into account. Specifically, the Governor must detail how the proposed budget helps the state move toward the mandatory greenhouse gas reduction goals and other objectives outlined in the Act on Climate. This ensures that financial planning aligns with the state's environmental mandates.

For younger readers

Rhode Island has a law designed to help the environment by stopping pollution that changes the weather (climate change). Every year, the Governor (the leader of the state) has to make a plan for how the state will spend its money. This new bill says that when the Governor shows this money plan to the rest of the government, they must also explain how the plan helps fix climate change. It makes sure the leader is thinking about the environment when deciding how to spend the state's money.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
The GovernorState AgenciesState LegislatorsEnvironmental Advocacy GroupsTaxpayers
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Ensures that the state budget aligns with environmental values by legally requiring the executive branch to justify spending plans in the context of climate mandates.
  • Increases transparency and accountability, allowing legislators and the public to see exactly how—or if—financial resources are being prioritized to combat the climate crisis.
  • Strengthens the effectiveness of the "2021 Act on Climate" by integrating its goals directly into the fiscal planning process, reducing the risk of unfunded mandates.
  • Lacks enforcement mechanisms or penalties if the Governor provides vague or insufficient explanations regarding climate considerations.
  • Does not mandate specific funding levels for climate justice or renewable energy, risking that the requirement becomes a performative "box-checking" exercise.
  • Relies heavily on the Governor's interpretation of what constitutes a "consideration," which could vary significantly depending on the administration in power.
For Conservatives
  • Increases transparency regarding government spending, allowing taxpayers to see exactly how much money is being allocated toward climate initiatives.
  • Imposes no new taxes, fees, or regulations on businesses or individuals, functioning solely as a reporting requirement for the state government.
  • Provides a clear paper trail that fiscal conservatives can use to scrutinize the budget for inefficient or wasteful spending related to the "2021 Act on Climate."
  • Further institutionalizes the "2021 Act on Climate," a law many conservatives oppose as government overreach, by embedding it into the core budgeting process.
  • Elevates climate change above other critical issues like public safety or the economy by mandating it be a central component of the budget presentation.
  • Creates additional bureaucracy and administrative work for the executive branch, potentially distracting from other fiscal responsibilities.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 4 additions

SECTION 1. Section 42-6.2-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-6.2 entitled "2021 Act on Climate" is hereby amended to read as follows: 42-6.2-8. Powers and duties of state agencies — Exercise of existing authority. Addressing the impacts on climate change shall be deemed to be within the powers, duties, and obligations of all state departments, agencies, commissions, councils, and instrumentalities, including quasi-public agencies, and each shall exercise among its purposes in the exercise of its existing authority, the purposes set forth in this chapter pertaining to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience in so far as climate change affects its mission, duties, responsibilities, projects, or programs. The governor, in presenting proposed budget articles for each fiscal year, shall set forth the climate considerations that were undertaken to move the state towards the mandated goals set forth in this chapter. Each agency shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to meet the greenhouse gas emission reduction mandate established by § 42-6.2-9.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.