Bill > H8144

This bill submits the state's 2026 capital development program, requesting the issuance of general obligation bonds totaling $67,500,000 for approval by voters in November 2026. * **Green Economy and Clean Energy Bonds:** $67,500,000 to be issued as general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and/or temporary notes. This total is allocated to various environmental and recreational projects: * Brownfields Remediation and Economic Development: $3,000,000 for matching grants to public, private, and nonprofit entities. * Facility Improvements: $8,000,000 for renovation and repair of existing facilities and recreational venues, and development of new ones. * Local Recreation Projects: $1,000,000 for matching grants to municipalities for acquiring, developing, or rehabilitating local recreational facilities. * Marine Infrastructure Development: $1,000,000 for asset protection and emergency repair of various facilities, including marine infrastructure. * Resilient Rhody Infrastructure Fund: $20,000,000 for financial assistance to local governments for improving infrastructure resiliency, coastal habitats, and restoring rivers and floodplains. * Narragansett Bay Watershed Restoration: $7,000,000 for activities to restore and protect water quality and enhance the economic viability and environmental sustainability of Narragansett Bay and state watersheds. * Energy Efficiency: $10,000,000 for activities related to financing energy efficiency infrastructure. * Farmland Preservation: $2,000,000 to protect working farms through the Agricultural Lands Preservation Commission. * Local Open Space Grants: $2,000,000 for matching grants to municipalities, land trusts, and nonprofit conservation groups for acquiring open space or conservation easements. * Statewide Open Space: $3,000,000 to protect open space, farmland, watershed, and recreation lands. * Outdoor Recreation Grants: $3,000,000 for matching grants to create and improve community parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, and other recreation facilities. * Fort Adams: $5,000,000 for improvements and renovations to Fort Adams. * Mariner Academy and Program Center: $2,500,000 for the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England for programming at the Mariner Cabin and Program Center focused on marine science and oceanography.