2023 -- S 0467
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LC002172
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ZERO-EMISSION LAWN CARE DEVICES
Introduced By: Senators Zurier, and Lauria
Date Introduced: March 07, 2023
Referred To: Senate Commerce
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby 1
amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 2
CHAPTER 99 3
ZERO-EMISSION LAWN CARE DEVICES 4
23-99-1. Short title. 5
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Zero-Emission Lawn Care Devices 6
Act." 7
23-99-2. Zero-emissions lawn care devices. 8
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 9
(1) "Lawn care device" means any device powered mechanically, which is intended to be 10
used or is actually used for mowing grass, cutting or chipping trees, tree roots or tree branches, or 11
clearing leaves or other vegetation from lawns, sidewalks, public streets or public highways and 12
shall include, but not be limited to, such devices as lawn mowers and lawn mower attachments, 13
lawn edgers, leaf blowers, leaf vacuums, mulchers and chippers. 14
(2) “Emissions” means exhaust from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels. 15
23-99-3. Rules and regulations. 16
The director of the department of environmental management shall promulgate rules and 17
regulations which shall require that all lawn care devices sold by January 1, 2025, or used in the 18
state by January 1, 2028, shall have zero-emissions. These rules and regulations shall take into 19
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account issues of affordability, accessibility and environmental equity, and shall include a plan to 1
collect data from retail businesses and lawn care businesses so that the department may report to 2
the general assembly on the status of lawn care device use and the transition to one hundred percent 3
(100%) zero-emission lawn care devices in Rhode Island. 4
23-99-4. Rebate program. 5
The office of energy resources shall develop a rebate program for the purchase of zero-6
emission lawn care devices, which may include or require a “trade-in” of a gas powered device, 7
and shall implement the program as available funds permit. 8
23-99-5. Penalty. 9
Effective January 1, 2028, no person shall use a lawn care device with emissions in Rhode 10
Island. A civil fine may be imposed as a sanction for any infraction of this section, based upon a 11
graduated schedule of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense, one hundred dollars ($100) for the 12
second office, and five hundred dollars ($500) for the third and subsequent offenses. The 13
department of environmental management shall accept location and date-stamped videos from a 14
cellphone or other camera of prohibited lawn care device use as legal evidence of a violation. 15
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 16
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ZERO-EMISSION LAWN CARE DEVICES
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This act would mandate that by January 1, 2025, all lawn care devices sold in the state have 1
zero-emissions and that by January 1, 2028, all lawn care devices used in the state have zero 2
emissions. The DEM would be required to promulgate rules and regulations. Violations would 3
result in a civil fine. 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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LC002172
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