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HB 7917

AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- EXECUTIVE CLIMATE CHANGE COORDINATING COUNCIL -- MANDATORY ACT ON CLIMATE COMPLIANCE IN STATE BUDGETING AND PLANNING

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

Requires Rhode Island to embed climate compliance assessments into all state budget and planning decisions through the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council.

03/25/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 7917

Legislative bill overview

HB 7917 would require Rhode Island's Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council to integrate climate compliance considerations into all state budgeting and planning processes. The bill mandates that state agencies evaluate climate impacts and align fiscal and operational decisions with climate goals.

Why is this important

Climate considerations currently operate as a separate policy track from budget and planning decisions, which can result in state spending that contradicts climate commitments. Requiring systematic integration could align Rhode Island's $10+ billion annual budget with its stated climate goals and reduce conflicting investments across agencies.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs and compliance burden: Agencies may argue that mandatory climate impact assessments for all budgeting add administrative overhead without clear cost-benefit analysis
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill lacks specificity on what constitutes "climate compliance" and how conflicts between climate goals and other state priorities should be resolved
  • Veto power concerns: Clarification needed on whether the coordinating council has authority to block or modify agency budgets, or merely advisory power to recommend changes

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

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