2026 -- S 3029 | |
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LC005253 | |
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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 | |
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Introduced By: Senators Patalano, Ciccone, Tikoian, Famiglietti, Thompson, Dimitri, | |
Date Introduced: March 05, 2026 | |
Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 45-2 of the General Laws entitled "General Powers" is hereby |
2 | amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 45-2-71. Regulation of powered landscape equipment. |
4 | (a) Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, and notwithstanding any |
5 | provision of a municipal charter, ordinance, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no city or town shall |
6 | enact or enforce any ordinance or regulation that prohibits, bans, or otherwise restricts the sale, |
7 | purchase, ownership, or use of powered landscape equipment, based solely upon the type of fuel |
8 | or power source used in the operation of such equipment. |
9 | (b) For purposes of this section, “powered landscape equipment” shall include, but not be |
10 | limited to, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, edgers, and similar outdoor |
11 | maintenance equipment, whether powered by gasoline, diesel, electricity, battery, or other energy |
12 | source. |
13 | (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a city or town from adopting or |
14 | enforcing: |
15 | (1) Reasonable, content-neutral noise regulations of general applicability; |
16 | (2) Restrictions on hours of operation applicable to all powered equipment; or |
17 | (3) Regulations necessary to address public safety concerns, provided such regulations do |
18 | not effectively prohibit the use of powered landscape equipment based on fuel type. |
19 | (d) No municipality shall adopt any changes in their regulation of power equipment, |
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1 | including a change in what type of power equipment can be used within its jurisdiction unless the |
2 | changes have been approved by a majority of those voting in the municipality's referendum. |
3 | (e) Grandfathering. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, any ordinance or |
4 | regulation of a city or town that was duly adopted and in effect prior to the effective date of this |
5 | section and that prohibits or restricts powered landscape equipment, based on fuel or power source, |
6 | including any municipal ban, shall remain valid and enforceable within that municipality; provided |
7 | that, such ordinance or regulation is not amended, expanded, or reenacted after the effective date |
8 | of this section. |
9 | (f) Any ordinance or regulation adopted, amended, expanded, or reenacted concerning the |
10 | use of power equipment after the effective date of this section, that is inconsistent with the |
11 | provisions herein shall be deemed null and void. |
12 | 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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1 | This act would prohibit municipalities from restricting certain landscaping equipment |
2 | based on its power source unless the restriction was grandfathered in or as a result of a positive |
3 | referendum vote. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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