Bill > HB30

This bill prohibits the operation of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in any urban land use district at any time, expanding existing noise and equipment regulations. The legislation is motivated by concerns about noise pollution and health risks, noting that gasoline-powered leaf blowers operate at around 90 decibels and can cause hearing damage after two hours of exposure. The bill increases fines for violations, with penalties escalating from $100 for a first offense to $500 for subsequent offenses, and introduces a new penalty of equipment forfeiture upon a third violation of the gasoline-powered leaf blower ban. The bill also applies existing time-of-use restrictions to non-gasoline-powered leaf blowers, which can only be used between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Importantly, the bill removes previous exemptions for government agencies and defines a gasoline-powered leaf blower specifically as one powered by a two-stroke internal combustion engine. The legislation allows individual counties to implement even stricter regulations if desired, and it provides alternatives like battery-powered leaf blowers as less disruptive options.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=30&year=2026