Bill > S09133

This bill, known as the "low impact landscaping rights act," amends real property law to protect homeowners' rights to install and maintain environmentally beneficial landscaping. It declares that it is in the state's interest to encourage biodiversity, noting that traditional turfgrass lawns negatively impact wildlife and pollinators and require excessive water and chemicals. The act prohibits homeowners' associations (HOAs) from adopting or enforcing rules that would effectively ban or unreasonably restrict "low impact landscaping," which is defined to include pollinator gardens, rain gardens, habitat gardens for native wildlife, and natural gardening using native plants. While HOAs can still enforce restrictions on low impact landscaping if it's on HOA property, not reasonably maintained, or poses public safety or encroachment issues, any denial of a homeowner's request must be in writing with specific reasons. This legislation aims to provide homeowners with similar protections to those already in place for solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations.