Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7879: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK AND JOBS ACT (Facilitates the study of thermal energy technology to determine if these goals can be met by the implementation of thermal energy networks in Rhode Island.)
Status: Chaptered, June 24, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2026:
2026 -- H 7879 ======== LC004920 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK AND JOB ACT Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Handy, Boylan, McGaw, and Edwards Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House Corporations It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: CHAPTER THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK AND JOB ACT 39-36-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act". 39-36-2. Purpose. Thermal energy networks have the potential to contribute to the satisfaction of the greenhouse gas reduction and just-transition requirements of chapter 6.2 of title 42 while potentially offering reduced operating costs and decreased costs of future expansion. The purpose of the thermal energy network and jobs act is to facilitate the study of this technology in an effort to determine if these goals can be met by the implementation of thermal energy networks in Rhode Island. 39-36-3. Definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) "Environmental justice focus area" means a census tract that meets one or more of the following criteria: (i) Annual median household income is not more than sixty-five percent …
Sponsors
- Terri-Denise Cortvriend (D, HD-072) · primary sponsor
- Arthur Handy (D, HD-018)
- Jennifer Boylan (D, HD-066)
- McGaw, Michelle (D, HD-071)
- John Edwards (D, HD-070)
Latest actions
- : Effective without Governor's signature
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : House passed Sub A
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- : Proposed Substitute
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Votes
- Senate Seq #640: (June 11, 2026): 38 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Seq #430: PASSAGE (June 9, 2026): 70 yea, 1 nay, passed
- House Committee on Corporations: Passage of Sub A (June 8, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS
Common questions
- What is H7879?
- H7879 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK AND JOBS ACT (Facilitates the study of thermal energy technology to determine if these goals can be met by the implementation of thermal energy networks in Rhode Island.).
- What is the status of H7879?
- Chaptered as of June 24, 2026. Latest action: Effective without Governor's signature (June 24, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7879?
- Terri-Denise Cortvriend (D, HD-072), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7879?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7879A.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.