FROM THE HILL
Appropriations Committee, we began to see developments with two additional pieces of legislation that both had the potential to weaken statewide unifica- tion:
SB 266 - Neonic Pesticides As Limit- ed-use Pesticides
HB 1161 – Environmental Standards for Appliances
While neither bill inherently threat- ened statewide unification initially, our coalition wanted to be vigilant in looking for any harmful amendment that contained language that would expand municipal authority or restrict commer- cial application. SB 266 was passed with an amendment effectively neutralizing the measure and ensuring that no threat was posed to statewide unification. Conversely, we received unfortunate and unexpected news surrounding HB 1161. As our coalition was preparing to testify for The Pesticide Applicators’ Act, we received news that an amendment was introduced in the Senate Transpor- tation Committee during the hearing for HB 1161 by the bill’s chief sponsors, Sens. Lisa Cutter (D-20) and Faith Winter (D-25). The amendment’s sole goal was to strike language that maintained state- wide standards for pesticide regulation. Due to the length of the amendment, the committee nor our coalition received advance notice of this amendment, and a vote was held under a minute after we became aware of its existence. The measure passed the Transportation Com- mittee with a 6-0 vote. This action, which circumvented traditional decorum, left advocates and legislators alike dismayed and enraged. Thanks to the dedication of our coali-
tion, we were able to whip the six votes necessary to reject the Senate Transpor- tation Committee’s report, which would
The LEAF Act in Georgia prohibits municipalities from passing regulations that create uneven standards for or distinguish gasoline-powered leaf blowers from similar equipment including electric-powered blowers. This was the result of a major push by Senate Republicans and stakeholder input from professional landscapers who advocated for the option of gas-powered equipment for their commercial operations.
38 The Edge //July/August 2023
remove all amendments and effectively neutralize the measure. Additionally, there was pressure from the Senate Ap- propriations Committee to remove the amendment, which threatened to kill the bill altogether. In the eleventh hour, we received confirmation from Cutter and Winter that all local control amendments would be stripped from the bill, securing a critical victory for statewide uniformity and applicators. On Monday, June 5, the Pesticide Applicators’ Act was signed into law by Governor Polis.
MARYLAND – GAS TO ELECTRIC TRAN- SITION In March, the Maryland House of
Delegates’ Health and Government Operations Committee held a hearing on Maryland HB 399 Gasoline-Powered Leaf Blowers - State Purchase and Use – Prohibition. The act would have prohibited the state of Maryland from using and purchasing gasoline-powered leaf blowers beginning July 1, 2023. The bill was sponsored by Del. Linda
Foley (D-15), who represents Montgom- ery County. Foley introduced a bill last year that would have banned the use of all gas-powered leaf blowers throughout the state on public and private property. After the bill was withdrawn, Foley asked if NALP would continue to collabo- rate with her on restrictions for future versions of the measure. Along with our partners at AGZA, we were able to hold multiple conversations with Foley and connected with her and her Chief of Staff at field studies and workshops that high- lighted the landscape industry’s perspec- tive. Through these engagements, we persuaded Foley to strike all restrictions to commercial landscaping operations from the bill and focus exclusively on the state’s use of gas-powered blowers. NALP submitted favorable testimony
during the bill’s initial hearing and com- mended Foley for being willing to hear our industry’s perspective and consider the impact such a bill would have on small businesses across the state. Having the state lead the transition to a ze- ro-emission fleet will help state officials better understand the technological and economic difficulties associated with the transition to zero-emission equipment. While we are appreciative of Foley’s approach, NALP also took this opportunity to reassert our position that any transition to zero-emission lawn care equipment must be done in a responsi- ble manner.
GEORGIA – LEAF ACT SIGNED INTO LAW On Tuesday, May 2, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the Landscape Equipment and Agricultural Fairness (LEAF) Act into law. This measure prohibits municipalities from passing regulations that create uneven standards for or distinguish gasoline-powered leaf blowers from similar equipment, including electric-powered blowers. This was the result of a major push by Senate Republicans and stakeholder input from professional landscapers who advocated for the option of gas-powered equipment for their commercial operations. The LEAF Act takes a major step to
protect the freedom of choice for both citizens and businesses to select the equipment that best fits their needs. With the passage of HB 374, Georgia becomes the first state to codify the protection of gas-powered landscape equipment use.
CONNECTICUT – NEONICOTINOID RESTRICTIONS Additionally, there was a considerable number of bills introduced in Connecticut that would have negative implications for commercial operations in the state. Connecticut HB 5220 and SB 295 aimed to restrict the nonagricultural use of neonicotinoids, while SB 963 sought to prohibit the nonagricultural use of neonicotinoids altogether. NALP members and our partners at the Connecticut Groundskeeping Association engaged with policymakers by sending over 100 messages to state senators and representatives highlighting how neonicotinoids are essential for maintaining safe and healthy greenspaces for families across the state.
Thankfully, both HB 5220 and SB 295
effectively died in the Joint Committee on Environment, respectively. While SB 963 is technically still viable, with the leg- islative session scheduled to end on June 8, we can confidently project that there will be no action taken on the measure, and there will be no harmful amend- ments introduced prior to adjournment. The government relations team at
NALP relishes the opportunity to advo- cate on our members’ behalf. We look forward to continuing to track relevant legislation while seeking opportunities to advocate on behalf of our members and the landscape and lawn care indus- try as a whole. TE
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