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HB 7183

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BUILDING BENCHMARKING AND REPORTING ACT OF 2026

2026 Regular Session Introduced by David Bennett and 9 co-sponsors

Rhode Island will require large buildings and campuses to publicly benchmark and report energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, starting with phased deadlines.

06/24/2026 Vetoed by Governor
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Bill Summary · HB 7183

Overview

HB 7183 (Rhode Island, 2026) would establish a Building Benchmarking and Reporting Act. The core idea is to create a publicly accessible energy benchmarking program for covered properties, administered by the Office of Energy Resources (OER). The goal is transparency around energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, with phased implementation, exemptions, and incentives to encourage participation. The act takes effect upon passage.

Purpose and intent

  • Promote transparency and data-driven insight into the energy performance of large buildings and campuses.
  • Enable comparison of energy use and emissions across covered properties to drive energy efficiency and decarbonization.
  • Provide a framework for timelines, reporting, exemptions, and enforcement (with incentives).

Key provisions

Definitions (23-27.5-1)

  • Benchmarking information: energy use data and property characteristics (address, primary use, gross floor area, annual energy use, site and source EUI, greenhouse gas emissions, compliance status).
  • Benchmarking tool: ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (EPA tool). If unavailable, reporting is suspended until restored or a comparable alternative is designated by OER.
  • Campus: two or more buildings sharing utilities, mainly for health care, research, or higher education.
  • Covered property: residential and non-residential buildings and campuses ≥ 25,000 gross square feet, identified via municipal tax assessor data.
  • Site energy vs. source energy definitions.
  • Owner and tenant definitions, utility provider definition.

Establishment and reporting framework (23-27.5-2 to 23-27.5-4)

  • OER to report benchmarking information publicly.
  • Annual input deadlines:
    • Buildings ≥ 50,000 gross square feet: input by May 15 each year starting 2028.
    • Buildings 25,000 to 49,999 square feet: input by May 15, 2030, and annually thereafter.
  • New covered properties must begin benchmarking after first full year of occupancy (with data requirements aligned to deadlines).
  • OER must notify owners (Sept 15–Dec 15 annually starting 2027) and post a list of covered property addresses by Jan 31 each year starting 2028.
  • OER to host annual information sessions for owners and interested parties.

Exemptions (23-27.5-5)

  • Exemptions available if:
    • Property not occupied for the required year,
    • Demolition commenced during the year,
    • No energy services for the required year.
  • Exemption applications filed with OER using a specified form; waivers discretionary.

Data submission and publication (23-27.5-6 to 23-27.5-7)

  • Owners must provide benchmarking data annually to OER as specified.

  • By Dec 31 of each year (starting 2027), OER must deliver a summary report to the General Assembly and publish it online, including:

    • Benchmarking data for the current year,
    • Progress against baseline and emissions trends,
    • Compliance status with energy assessment/actions requirements.

  • Direct upload option: owners may authorize utilities or third parties to report data on their behalf, without relieving the owner of legal reporting duties.

Municipal participation (23-27.5-8)

  • Municipalities with pre-existing comparable benchmarking programs may continue them if they notify OER within 180 days of enactment and provide data annually thereafter.

Enforcement and incentives (23-27.5-9)

  • OER to develop participation incentives, potentially including:
    • Requiring participation to access certain grants or funding,
    • Participation certification and displayable logos,
    • Other regulatory incentives.
  • OER may promulgate rules, including enforcement with escalating warnings and fines no earlier than May 15, 2031.

Miscellaneous

  • Severability clause.
  • Act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Owners of covered properties (≥ 25,000 gross square feet) and campuses, including residential buildings.
  • Municipalities and property managers with occupancy and energy data for large properties.
  • Utilities and third-party data reporters (who may be authorized to submit data on behalf of owners).
  • General public and policymakers via published benchmarking data and annual reports.

Timeline and implementation

  • Reporting deadlines begin in 2027–2028 for larger properties; broader deadlines extend to smaller covered properties by 2030.
  • New properties start benchmarking after one full year of occupancy.
  • Enforcement and penalties, if any, would be possible starting May 15, 2031.
  • Ongoing outreach and informational sessions in 2026–2029 in anticipation of expanded requirements.

Potential impact

  • Increased visibility into energy consumption and emissions for large Rhode Island properties.
  • Data-driven opportunities to improve energy efficiency and decarbonize building stock.
  • Administrative workload for owners and OER, with phased timelines and potential incentives to foster participation.
  • Municipal alignment with local benchmarking programs, reducing duplicative reporting.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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