# Rhode Island S3080: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK AND JOB ACT . Rhode Island S3080, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK AND JOB ACT ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Robert Britto (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-06-24 (Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 340) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3080-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island S3080 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK AND JOB ACT . - Status: became law - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-03-13 - Last action: 2026-06-24, Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 340 - Sponsor: Robert Britto (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 2 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (146 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New taskforce and state rules for networks: benefit, medium. A 12‑member taskforce now advises on studies, pilots, funding, and worker transition. It meets at least quarterly and sends a report within 18 months after getting full study results. The Public Utilities Commission must issue rules within 18 months. Rules must cover fair market access, cost‑effect… - Study sites must include disadvantaged areas: benefit, low. Covered utilities must pick 2 to 12 places for feasibility studies within 12 months. They must start at least 2 studies within 18 months. At least one study area must be in or directly benefit an environmental justice area. An environmental justice area meets one or more tests: income at or below 6… - Thermal network costs and your bill: mixed, medium. The law lets utilities recover reasonable planning and pilot costs in customer rates, after review by the Public Utilities Commission. Utilities must first try for grants, tax credits, and low‑interest loans. Any outside funding lowers what customers pay. The commission approves pilot cost recovery… - Gas utilities can run thermal networks: mixed, medium. With approval from the Public Utilities Commission, natural gas utilities may build, own, or run thermal energy networks and charge customers. Approval is granted case by case and does not give territory‑wide rights. Cities, cooperatives, nonprofits, and others can also develop networks. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Robert Britto (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Jacob Bissaillon (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Mark P. McKenney (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-11 | Senate | PUBLIC UTILITIES/CARRIERS- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK JOBS ACT In Concurrence | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2026-06-09 | House | THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK /JOBS ACT PASSAGE | pass | 70 | 1 | | | 2026-06-04 | Senate | PUBLIC UTILITIES & CARRIERS UTILITY OWNERSHIP ELECTRIC FAC. Passage | pass | 38 | 0 | | ## Actions (18) - 2026-06-24: Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 340 (Governor) - 2026-06-16: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-11: Senate passed Sub B in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-09: House passed Sub B (House) - 2026-06-08: Placed on House Calendar (06/09/2026) (House) - 2026-06-08: Committee recommends passage of Sub B - 2026-06-07: Proposed Substitute - 2026-06-05: Scheduled for consideration (06/08/2026) - 2026-06-05: Referred to House Corporations (House) - 2026-06-04: Senate passed Sub A (Senate) - 2026-06-02: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/04/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-02: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-06-01: Proposed Substitute - 2026-05-29: Scheduled for consideration (06/02/2026) - 2026-05-20: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-05-15: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/20/2026) - 2026-03-13: Introduced, referred to Senate Environment and Agriculture (Senate) ## Bill text - S3080 - As Introduced, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3080.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3080.pdf) - S3080 - Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3080A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3080A.pdf) ## Related bills - S3073: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGES OF REAL PROPERTY . (became law) - S3047: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE . (became law) - H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY . (became law) - H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN . (became law) ## Sources - [S3080 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3080.htm) - [S3080 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3080.pdf) - [S3080 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3080A.htm) - [S3080 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3080A.pdf) ## Related - [S3073: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGES OF REAL PROPERTY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3073-2026) - [S3047: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3047-2026) - [H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8605-2026) - [H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8580-2026) - [H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8586-2026) - [H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8506-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3080-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).