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HB 6263 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE AND PURCHASE OF GAS-POWERED HAND-HELD OR BACKPACK LEAF BLOWERS BY STATE AGENCIES.

HB 6263 requires Connecticut's Departments of Administrative Services, Energy and Environmental Protection, and Transportation to replace gas-powered landscaping equipment (like leaf blowers and mowers) with equivalent electric models for state property maintenance. Starting September 1, 2027, agencies must purchase or lease electric equipment when gas-powered machines reach the end of their useful life and electric alternatives work just as well. By September 1, 2029, these departments must also require contractors performing state landscaping work to use electric equipment if functionally equivalent options exist. Exceptions allow continued use of gas-powered equipment for emergencies, fire management, forest/riparian area maintenance, or public safety operations.
Issues: ✓ EnergySupports EnergyReplaces gas-powered equipment with electric models, reducing fossil fuel dependence in state operations per bill requirements.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates replacement of gas-powered leaf blowers with electric models for state agencies to reduce emissions, aligning with pollution control and clean energy promotion in environmental protection.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Apr 14, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Bill → ENV Joint Favorable Substitute · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was revised to expand the scope from a general prohibition on gas-powered leaf blowers to a phased requirement for state agencies to prioritize electric equipment for landscaping. The effective date was moved from passage to October 1, 2025, and the ban on gas-powered equipment was delayed from 2029 to September 1, 2029. The bill now specifically targets the Departments of Administrative Services, Energy and Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and includes new exemptions for emergency operations, fire management, and public safety.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed from all state and municipal agencies to only three specific state departments, and the ban was extended to include contractors performing maintenance on state properties.
TIMELINE

Effective date changed from passage to October 1, 2025, and the gas-powered equipment ban was delayed from January 1, 2029 to September 1, 2029.

SCOPE

Applicability changed from all state and municipal agencies to only the Departments of Administrative Services, Energy and Environmental Protection, and Transportation.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for state agencies to purchase, lease, or acquire electric landscaping equipment when gas-powered equipment is functionally equivalent and its useful life has expired.

Added requirement for state departments to prepare bidding documents that mandate contractors use electric equipment for state property maintenance.

EXEMPTIONS

Added exceptions for emergency response, fire hazard reduction, post-fire recovery, riparian/forest/grassland management, and public safety operations.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed provisions allowing municipalities to enforce the ban via ordinance and the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to adopt regulations.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Mar 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
DRAFTED BY COMMITTEE
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.