ALBANY, NY – A newly introduced bill in the New York State Assembly aims to phase out the sale of gasoline-powered lawn equipment, including leaf blowers and lawn mowers, as part of a broader push to reduce emissions from small off-road engines.
The legislation, Assembly Bill 2114, was introduced on January 15, 2025, by Assembly Members Amy Paulin, Andrew Raia Carroll, and Dana Levenberg and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation. The measure would amend the state’s Environmental Conservation Law by creating a new section — 19-0306-C — that explicitly prohibits the sale of gas-powered lawn care devices statewide.
If enacted, the law would require the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to issue detailed regulations governing the transition and ensure that the sale of gasoline-powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers is prohibited by January 1, 2029. The bill specifies that the act would take effect immediately upon passage.
Supporters of the proposal say it aligns with the state’s climate goals and efforts to curb air pollution from small engines, which emit high levels of carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds. Opponents, including landscaping industry representatives, argue the ban could drive up costs for businesses and homeowners, particularly in rural areas where electric alternatives remain less practical.
The measure mirrors similar initiatives in states such as California, which has already approved a timeline to eliminate sales of gas-powered lawn equipment. New York lawmakers say the legislation represents a step toward modernizing the state’s environmental policies.
- Assembly Bill 2114 would ban sales of gas-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers
- New York’s environmental agency would develop enforcement regulations
- Proposal aligns with broader state and national emissions-reduction goals