Committee approves narrowed substitute to phase electric landscape equipment on state properties in larger counties

A Senate committee voted unanimously to replace the second substitute with a fourth substitute and to favorably recommend the revised Senate Bill 124. The fourth substitute narrows the original proposal so it applies only to state government facilities in counties with population of 200,000 or more (based on 2020 population) and only to two-stroke equipment (for example, weed trimmers and leaf blowers), not four-stroke engines such as lawn mowers.

Sponsor Senator Pitcher said he limited the bill after committee feedback and discussions with universities that had experience implementing equipment-conversion policies. Under the fourth substitute, state agencies in qualifying counties are asked to acquire electric equipment when they replace existing two-stroke devices rather than require an immediate phase-in. Sponsor language also removed a broader statewide application and narrowed equipment classes to reduce fiscal impacts.

Committee members asked technical questions about county classifications and implementation. The sponsor said the 200,000-population threshold as of 2020 provides statutory certainty instead of relying on changing outside classifications. Senator Sandle said the narrowed bill softened his prior opposition and praised the sponsor's work to refine the approach.

After public comment was closed with no speakers, the committee voted to delete the prior substitute and replace the bill with the fourth substitute; it then voted to favorably recommend the fourth substitute to the Senate floor. The chair announced the votes were unanimous.