The bill amends Chapter 45-2 of the General Laws by adding a new section, 45-2-71, which regulates the use of powered landscape equipment by municipalities. It explicitly prohibits cities and towns from enacting or enforcing any ordinances or regulations that restrict the sale, purchase, ownership, or use of powered landscape equipment based solely on the type of fuel or power source. The definition of powered landscape equipment includes items such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, edgers, and similar outdoor maintenance equipment, regardless of whether they are powered by gasoline, diesel, electricity, battery, or other energy sources.

The bill allows municipalities to adopt reasonable, content-neutral noise regulations of general applicability, impose restrictions on hours of operation applicable to all powered equipment, and implement regulations necessary to address public safety concerns, provided such regulations do not effectively prohibit the use of powered landscape equipment based on fuel type.

Additionally, 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, as long as such ordinance or regulation is not amended, expanded, or reenacted after the effective date of this section. 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. The act will take effect upon passage.