June legislative session roundup

Three states with part-time legislatures — New Hampshire, Delaware, and Rhode Island — wrapped up their sessions in June, and a few building-related bills didn't make it through.

In New Hampshire, a bill that would have updated the state's building energy code from the 2018 version to the newer 2024 version died in committee, so the older, less efficient code stays in place for now. Delaware's legislature spent the session on budget matters and didn't take up any building-related measures.

Rhode Island saw the most activity, though little of it succeeded. The governor vetoed a bill that would have required owners of large residential and commercial buildings (over 25,000 square feet) to report their annual energy use and emissions — a step that could have affected larger apartment buildings, though not typical single-family homes. Separate bills that would have lowered the certification threshold for public building renovations and required new public buildings to meet green building standards were shelved for further study. A bill on indoor air quality inspections in public schools passed the Senate but stalled in the House. And an attempt to repeal the state's 2021 climate law, which sets targets for cutting emissions statewide, failed to advance.

None of this changes anything for homeowners right now, but it's worth keeping an eye on if you live in Rhode Island — some of these ideas, like energy reporting rules and stronger building codes, tend to resurface in future sessions and can eventually shape rebate programs or renovation requirements.