Prohibits municipalities from restricting certain landscaping equipment based on its power source. It also prohibits any changes in the regulation of the use of power equipment in the municipality, without a positive referendum vote.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would prevent cities and towns in Rhode Island from banning or restricting landscaping equipment — such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, or trimmers — based on what powers them. In other words, a municipality could not pass a local rule that says, for example, "only electric-powered tools are allowed; gas-powered ones are banned." Whether equipment runs on gas, electricity, battery, or another power source, local governments would not be allowed to treat it differently under this bill.

The bill also adds an extra layer of protection around any future changes to how power equipment is regulated at the local level. If a city or town wanted to change its rules about the use of power equipment in any way, it could not do so through a simple vote by the town council or local officials. Instead, the change would have to go to a public referendum — meaning residents would have to vote directly on it and approve it before any new regulation could take effect.

This bill would primarily affect local governments, landscaping professionals, and homeowners. Landscapers and lawn care businesses would be protected from having to change their tools or equipment to comply with local rules, which could otherwise be costly. Homeowners who own gas-powered equipment would similarly be protected. Cities and towns, on the other hand, would have less flexibility to set their own local environmental or noise-related policies regarding outdoor power tools without going through a full public vote.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee and is scheduled for a hearing in April 2026.