Washington State proposes bill threatening jail time, $10,000 fine for using gas-powered leaf blowers in attempt to combat climate change

Washington Democrats are seeking to jail state residents for using gas-powered landscaping tools such as leaf blowers.

Democratic State Representative Amy Walen has pre-filed HB 1868, which adds to the Washington State Clean Air Act a ban on “gasoline-powered and diesel-powered landscaping and other outdoor power equipment” for “contributing to climate change.”

Violators would face up to a year in jail or a $10,000 fine.

The bill lists claims that gas-powered tools cause unintended health consequences such as asthma.

The legislation empowers the Department of Ecology to “adopt rules to prohibit engine exhaust and evaporative emissions from new outdoor power equipment” by January 1, 2026, or earlier.

However, the bill exempts all government agencies or contractors working for the government from being subject to the ban in an emergency and also when there is no "suitable zero emissions outdoor power equipment technology" available.

The legislation would temporarily lift state sales and use taxes on "zero emissions landscaping equipment," including battery-powered or plug-in lawn equipment and "lawn mowers powered solely by human effort." However, the incentives would expire on Jan. 1, 2030.

Democratic lawmakers have introduced similar legislation in California and Minnesota, targeting new gas-powered equipment but allowing people to use tools they already own.

California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation banning the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers and lawnmowers beginning in 2024. On Monday, Ann Arbor's city council banned gasoline-powered leaf blowers starting Jan. 1, 2028. DC's ban on gas-powered leaf bloers went into effect on January 1, 2022.