New York Assembly Bill A03331

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/27/25
• Refer: 1/27/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Prohibits the use of gas-powered leaf and lawn blowers between May 1st and September 30th.

Summary

This bill would amend the New York Public Health Law to prohibit the operation of gas-powered leaf and lawn blowers during the period from May 1 through September 30 each year. The restriction would apply to any use of gas-powered leaf and lawn blowers for any purpose during those months, and the bill sets a civil penalty of up to $100 for violations. The bill is scheduled to take effect on May 1, 2027, giving time for notice and transition before enforcement begins. By creating a new section of the Public Health Law, the measure would add a seasonal operating restriction on a specific category of landscaping equipment and would affect homeowners, landscapers, property managers, and municipal maintenance operations that use gas-powered blowers.

Impact

The bill would add a new Public Health Law provision, section 1300-d, establishing a statewide seasonal ban on gas-powered leaf and lawn blowers during the warmer months. It would create a civil enforcement mechanism with a maximum fine of $100 per violation and would likely require affected users and local enforcement authorities to adjust practices, equipment choices, and compliance procedures. The measure does not appear to alter other statutes directly, but it would impose a new operational restriction on landscaping and property-maintenance activities across the state.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears to be policy-driven and preventive rather than contested in the record available here. The bill’s framing suggests an intent to address public health or quality-of-life concerns associated with gas-powered blower use during the spring and summer months. No formal support or opposition is documented in the supplied context.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the restriction itself: opponents could object to the seasonal ban as burdensome for landscapers, homeowners, and municipalities that rely on gas-powered equipment, while supporters would likely view it as a public health or nuisance-reduction measure. Another likely issue is enforcement, including how violations would be identified and whether a $100 civil fine is sufficient to deter noncompliance. Because no committee transcript or vote history is provided, specific named stakeholders or arguments are not available in the record.