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HB 453

prohibiting municipalities from banning use of grounds maintenance and snow and ice removal equipment with internal combustion engines.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Hill and 3 co-sponsors

HB 453 would bar municipalities from banning ICE-powered grounds maintenance and snow/ice removal equipment.

Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 77
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 453

Summary of HB 453 (Session 2026, New Hampshire)

Purpose and Intent

HB 453 seeks to prohibit municipalities from banning the use of certain grounds maintenance and snow and ice removal equipment that operate with internal combustion engines (ICE). In short, the bill would prevent local governments from enacting ordinances, rules, or bans that prohibit the operation or use of ICE-powered equipment for grounds maintenance and snow/ice removal.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibition on local bans: Municipalities would be barred from adopting regulations that ban or restrict the use of grounds maintenance equipment or snow and ice removal equipment that use internal combustion engines.
  • Scope of equipment: The prohibition covers equipment used for:
    • Grounds maintenance (e.g., mowers, trimmers, lawn care machinery)
    • Snow and ice removal (e.g., snow plows, blowers, sanders) powered by ICE
  • Municipal authority limitation: Local jurisdictions would be limited in implementing or enforcing rules intended to phase out or ban ICE-powered equipment for the specified purposes.
  • Potential exemptions or alignments: The bill text (as summarized by its title) suggests a uniform standard across municipalities, potentially limiting adoption of more stringent or alternative-fueled equipment requirements at the local level.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Municipalities and local government agencies: They would be restricted from enacting or enforcing bans on ICE-powered equipment for grounds maintenance and snow/ice removal.
  • Public works and parks departments: Agencies responsible for maintenance and snow/ice operations, which typically rely on ICE equipment, would operate under a prohibition on local bans.
  • Private contractors working with municipalities: If municipalities intend to require or ban certain equipment in public works contracts, those local prohibitions would be constrained.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Committee activity and status:
    • The bill has a history of committee consideration, with public hearings and executive sessions noted throughout 2025, including a public hearing on January 23, 2025.
    • The committee eventually reported the bill as “Inexpedient to Legislate,” indicating the committee did not recommend passage.
  • Floor status:
    • The action history shows an “Inexpedient to Legislate” recommendation and placement on subsequent calendars, with a final entry in January 2026 indicating the bill was deemed inexpedient to legislate at that point.
  • Timeline highlights:
    • Introduced in early 2025, retained in committee in January 2025, with multiple sessions and executive hearings through 2025.
    • Final committee recommendation and disposition occurred in late 2025, followed by a subsequent action in January 2026.

Potential Impact and Context

  • Policy trade-offs: The bill prioritizes maintaining ICE-powered equipment use at the local level, potentially limiting local transitions to alternative fuels or more stringent environmental standards for grounds maintenance and snow/ice removal.
  • Environmental and noise considerations: By restricting local bans, communities may retain ICE equipment longer, which can have implications for emissions, air quality, and noise, depending on local fleet updates and maintenance practices.
  • Economic considerations: Municipal budgeting and procurement may be affected by the prohibition on banning ICE equipment. However, since the bill’s status indicates it did not advance, these effects remain contingent on any future legislative action.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to related state-level environmental or procurement policies, or provide a concise pros/cons briefing for policymakers and the public.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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