2026 -- H 7150

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LC003581

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS

     Introduced By: Representatives Paplauskas, Hopkins, Fascia, Place, Quattrocchi,
Santucci, Roberts, Newberry, Noret, and J. Brien

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2026

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 45-2 of the General Laws entitled "General Powers" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     45-2-71. Regulation of powered landscape equipment.

     (a) Notwithstanding any provision of a municipal charter, ordinance, rule, or regulation to

the contrary, no city or town shall enact or enforce any ordinance or regulation that prohibits, bans,

or otherwise restricts the sale, purchase, ownership, or use of powered landscape equipment based

solely upon the type of fuel or power source used by such equipment.

     (b) For purposes of this section, “powered landscape equipment” shall include, but not be

limited to, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, edgers, and similar outdoor

maintenance equipment, whether powered by gasoline, diesel, electricity, battery, or other energy

source.

     (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a city or town from adopting or

enforcing:

     (1) Reasonable, content-neutral noise regulations of general applicability;

     (2) Restrictions on hours of operation applicable to all powered equipment; or

     (3) Regulations necessary to address public safety concerns, provided such regulations do

not effectively prohibit the use of powered landscape equipment based on fuel type.

     (d) Grandfathering. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, any ordinance or

regulation of a city or town that was duly adopted and in effect prior to the effective date of this

section and that prohibits or restricts powered landscape equipment based on fuel or power source,

including any municipal ban, shall remain valid and enforceable within that municipality; provided

that, such ordinance or regulation is not amended, expanded, or reenacted after the effective date

of this section.

     (e) Any ordinance or regulation adopted, amended, expanded, or reenacted after the

effective date of this section that is inconsistent with the provisions herein shall be deemed null and

void.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS

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     This act would prohibit municipalities from restricting certain landscaping equipment

based on its power source.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC003581

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