Last week, Governor McKee used his veto pen on legislation requiring building owners to report their energy use. NFIB, along with other business groups, opposed this intrusive and burdensome policy.

During the final weeks of session, both the Rhode Island House and Senate passed legislation requiring residential and commercial building owners to report their energy use to the Office of Energy Resources (OER). In a tiered rollout, the new law demanded buildings of 50,000 square feet or more must comply by May 15, 2028, followed by buildings of 25,000 square feet or more by May 15, 2030.  While no specific penalties were outlined in the bill, the legislation allowed OER to develop escalating fines to enforce this troublesome policy.

In his veto message, McKee referenced his own version of energy reporting that only impacted state-owned buildings, writing:

“The framework enacted through the FY 2027 budget represents a more practical and sustainable path forward and does not place any burden on residential and commercial properties,” McKee wrote in the letters to legislative leaders. “Further, the State can build the expertise, systems, and data infrastructure necessary for long-term success while leading by example.

The environmental lobby expressed their outrage over the veto and already threatening to seek a veto override from the legislature or reintroduce the bill again next session.