Rhode Island House Bill H5425

Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/25
• Refer: 2/12/25

Caption

Requires that the division of planning create a checklist of environmental and energy issues that state construction projects which cost in excess of $10,000,000 would need to consider.

Summary

H5425 requires the state division of planning, working with the division of capital asset management and maintenance and the office of energy resources, to create an environmental and energy checklist for state construction projects overseen by the Department of Administration that cost more than $10 million. The checklist must address flood risk, stormwater management, resilience to coastal and inland flooding, energy efficiency, HVAC lifecycle costs, renewable or alternative energy use, access to transit and active transportation, and any other relevant environmental or energy issues. The bill also requires the project manager for each covered construction project to complete, sign, and retain the checklist with publicly accessible project records. The measure is intended to ensure these issues are considered during design and construction, but it does not require the checklist to be approved to the division of planning’s satisfaction. It further encourages other state branches, departments, agencies, and institutions to create and use similar checklists where applicable.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would add a new section to chapter 42-11 of the General Laws governing the Department of Administration and would impose a planning and documentation requirement on large state construction projects exceeding $10 million. It would not directly change permitting standards or building codes, but it would require state project managers to evaluate and record environmental resilience and energy-related factors as part of project development, with the checklist maintained in public project files.

Sentiment

The available context suggests generally favorable or at least policy-supportive sentiment toward the bill, as it was introduced by a group of representatives and framed as a practical planning tool for resilient, energy-efficient public construction. No committee transcript or vote record is available here, so there is no evidence of formal opposition or recorded controversy in the provided materials. The bill’s tone is administrative and preventive rather than regulatory or punitive.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is whether the checklist requirement could add administrative burden or delay to large public construction projects, even though the bill states it is not meant to require approval to a particular standard. Another possible area of debate is the breadth of the checklist, which gives the Department of Administration discretion to include additional environmental and energy issues. Supporters are likely to emphasize flood resilience, sustainability, and long-term cost savings, while any skeptics would likely focus on implementation burden, project flexibility, and whether the requirement is too open-ended.