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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0167*
HOUSE BILL 167
M3 6lr0646
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegate Foley
Requested: July 23, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Gasoline–Powered Leaf Blowers – Purchase and Use – Prohibitions 2
FOR the purpose of prohibiting the State from purchasing gasoline –powered leaf blowers 3
beginning on a certain date; prohibiting the State or any contractor or subcontractor 4
employed by the State from using gasoline –powered leaf blowers beginning on a 5
certain date; requiring the State or any contractor or subcontractor employed by the 6
State to comply with certain local g overnment standards; and generally relating to 7
gasoline–powered leaf blowers. 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Environment 10
Section 3 –601 through 3 –605 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 6. 11
Gasoline–Powered Leaf Blowers” 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2013 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Environment 17
SUBTITLE 6. GASOLINE–POWERED LEAF BLOWERS. 18
3–601. 19
IN THIS SUBTITLE, “GASOLINE–POWERED LEAF BLOWER”: 20
(1) MEANS A COMBUSTION EN GINE–POWERED HANDHELD , 21
BACKPACK, OR WALK–BEHIND LEAF OR GRASS BLOWER, VACUUM, OR LEAF DEBRIS 22
2 HOUSE BILL 167
REMOVAL DEVICE; 1
(2) INCLUDES AN ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWER CONNECTE D TO A 2
GENERATOR POWERED BY GASOLINE OR OTHER FOSSIL FUELS; AND 3
(3) DOES NOT INCLUDE A ST ATIONARY OR TOW –BEHIND LEAF 4
VACUUM, MULCHER, DEBRIS LOADER DEVICE, OR SNOW BLOWER. 5
3–602. 6
THIS SUBTITLE DOES NOT APPLY TO: 7
(1) WILDLAND FIRE SUPPRESSION ACTIVITIES; 8
(2) PRESCRIBED BURN MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES; 9
(3) FIRE FIGHTING ACTIVITIES CARRIED O UT BY AUTHORIZED 10
PERSONNEL; OR 11
(4) EMERGENCY RESPONSE AC TIVITIES, INCLUDING ACTIVITIES TO 12
CLEAR SURFACES FOLLOWING A CRASH, CARRIED OUT BY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL 13
AT A TRANSPORTATION FACILITY AS DEFINED IN § 3–101 OF THE TRANSPORTATION 14
ARTICLE. 15
3–603. 16
(A) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2026, THE STATE MAY NOT PURCHAS E A 17
GASOLINE–POWERED LEAF BLOWER. 18
(B) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2031, THE STATE, OR ANY CONTRACTOR OR 19
SUBCONTRACTOR EMPLOY ED BY THE STATE WORKING ON STATE–OWNED LAND, 20
MAY NOT USE A GASOLINE–POWERED LEAF BLOWER. 21
3–604. 22
EACH AGENCY IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF STATE GOVERNMENT SHAL L 23
MONITOR AND ENFORCE THAT AGENCY’S COMPLIANCE WITH TH E PROVISIONS OF 24
THIS SUBTITLE. 25
3–605. 26
(A) THIS SUBTITLE DOES NO T AFFECT THE AUTHORI TY OF A COUNTY , A 27
MUNICIPALITY, OR ANY OTHER LOCAL G OVERNMENT TO ENACT S TANDARDS THAT 28
HOUSE BILL 167 3
ARE AT LEAST AS STRI NGENT AS THE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED IN THIS SUBTITLE 1
OR THAT BEGIN ON AN EARLIER DATE THAN TH E DATES ESTABLISH ED IN THIS 2
SUBTITLE. 3
(B) THE STATE, OR ANY CONTRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR EMPLOYED BY 4
THE STATE, SHALL COMPLY WITH LO CAL GOVERNMENT STANDARDS THAT ARE AT 5
LEAST AS STRINGENT A S THE STANDARDS ESTA BLISHED IN THIS SUBT ITLE WHEN 6
MANAGING STATE PROPERTY. 7
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 8
1, 2026. 9