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Committee hears hours of testimony on bill to bar municipal fuel-type bans for landscaping equipment
Summary
Lawmakers heard competing testimony on H 7150, which would prevent municipalities from banning powered landscaping equipment based solely on fuel type while preserving local authority over noise, hours and safety. Industry witnesses warned of high conversion costs and technical limits; public-health advocates said electric options exist and improve with support.
PROVIDENCE — The House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing on Tuesday heard extended testimony on H 7150, a bill that would stop cities and towns from banning powered landscaping equipment based solely on fuel type while preserving local rules on noise, hours of operation and public safety.
Representative Matthew Paplauskas, sponsor of H 7150, told the committee the measure would "prevent municipalities from banning equipment solely based on fuel type" but would not "weaken local authority. It explicitly preserves it." He said the bill aims to avoid sudden, costly mandates that could fall hardest on small businesses and municipal fleets.
"If the problem is excessive noise, regulate noise; if the problem is hours of operation, regulate hours; if the problem is unsafe use, enforce safety," Paplauskas said. "This bill does not tell anyone what they should use. It simply says government shouldn't tell everyone what they must use."
Industry witnesses urged the committee to reject…
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