HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NEXT GENERATION PUBLIC BUILDINGS ACT, the official text

S2529 2026 -- S 2529 ======== LC005069 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NEXT GENERATION PUBLIC BUILDINGS ACT Introduced By: Senators Urso, Britto, Gu, DiMario, Vargas, Kallman, Acosta, Ujifusa, and Bell Date Introduced: February 13, 2026 Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled HEALTH AND SAFETY is hereby 2 amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 3 CHAPTER 27.5 4 NEXT GENERATION PUBLIC BUILDINGS ACT 5 23-27.5-1. Short title. 6 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Next Generation Public Buildings 7 Act. 8 23-27.5-2. Next generation public buildings. 9 (a) All new construction of state and municipal buildings, including public school 10 buildings, open to the public commenced after January 1, 2028; all renovations and replacements 11 of a value in excess of fifty percent (50%) of existing public state and municipal buildings open to 12 the public commenced after January 1, 2028; and any extension or increase in floor area, number 13 of stories or height of a state or municipal building open to the public commenced after January 1, 14 2028, shall: 15 (1) Prohibit the use of combustion-based heating for air or water heating; 16 (2) Comply to the extent feasible with the goals provided in the provisions of chapter 6.2 17 of title 42 ( 2021 act on climate ); and 18 (3) Comply with the provisions of chapter 27.3 of title 23 ( state building code ) to include, 1 but not limited to, provisions in the Rhode Island conservation code as adopted from International 2 Energy Conservation Code ( IECC ), 2024 edition. 3 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, where no reasonable 4 or feasible alternative exists as determined by the executive climate change coordinating council 5 established pursuant to the provisions of § 42-6.2-1, systems for emergency back-up power, or 6 buildings specifically designed for occupancy of a laboratory, hospital, or crematorium, shall be 7 exempt; provided however, those buildings shall seek to minimize emissions and maximize health 8 and safety. 9 (c) A municipality may apply to the state building code standards committee for a waiver 10 of the provisions set forth in subsection (a) of this section in cases where the provisions would place 11 an undue hardship or burden on their compliance by the municipality. 12 (d) During any inspection of a public building or a place of public accommodation by an 13 inspector, building official, or other local official responsible for code enforcement, the inspector 14 or official may inspect for compliance with this section. 15 (e) The building codes standards committee shall adopt and promulgate all rules and 16 regulations required to implement the purposes of this section. 17 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC005069 ======== LC005069 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NEXT GENERATION PUBLIC BUILDINGS ACT *** 1 This act would prohibit the use of combustion-based heating for air or water heating in any 2 state or municipal building open to the public constructed, altered or renovated on or after January 3 1, 2028. Systems for emergency back-up power, or buildings specifically designed for occupancy 4 of a commercial food establishment, laboratory, laundromat, hospital, or crematorium, shall be 5 exempt. 6 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC005069 ======== LC005069 - Page 3 of 3