Establishes a program for the energy and water benchmarking of large buildings in Rhode Island and a standard for their energy performance.

## Rhode Island Building Benchmarking and Reporting Act of 2026

This bill would create a program requiring owners of large buildings in Rhode Island to regularly track and report how much energy and water their buildings use. This process — called "benchmarking" — involves measuring a building's energy and water consumption and comparing it against similar buildings to see how efficient it is. The bill would also establish performance standards that large buildings would be expected to meet, setting a baseline for how energy-efficient they should be.

The bill would primarily affect owners of large commercial, residential, and institutional buildings, such as office buildings, apartment complexes, hospitals, and schools. These building owners would be responsible for collecting and submitting data about their energy and water use, likely on a regular schedule. The goal is to give building owners, tenants, and the public a clearer picture of how much energy these large buildings consume and how they compare to others.

Currently, this bill is in its early stages. It was introduced in the Rhode Island House and referred to the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, where it has been scheduled for a hearing. The committee has recommended the bill be held for further study, meaning lawmakers are not yet ready to move it forward and want more time to review it before taking action.