Bill > S2024

This bill, titled the Rhode Island Climate Superfund Act of 2026, establishes a fund and a process for the state's Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to recover costs associated with addressing climate change impacts. It declares that major fossil fuel producers are responsible for climate change damages due to their historical emissions, and that Rhode Island, with its extensive coastline and economy, is particularly vulnerable. The act defines "climate change response work" broadly to include projects like coastal protection, infrastructure upgrades, and ecosystem restoration. It also defines "responsible party" as an entity that extracted or refined fossil fuels and contributed over one billion tons of "covered greenhouse gas emissions" (greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) during the period from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2025. The DEM will use an "accepted attribution methodology," consistent with international scientific standards, to calculate each responsible party's proportional liability and issue "cost recovery demands" for these expenses. Funds collected will be deposited into a dedicated "climate superfund account" and used exclusively for qualifying expenditures, with reimbursements also provided to municipalities, tribal governments, and community organizations. The act also outlines procedures for administrative hearings, appeals, and enforcement, including penalties for late payments, and clarifies that it does not preempt other existing legal remedies or climate-related laws.

Budget and Finance

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