Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 15th. Please join us at 7:00 PM as we discuss next steps in pushing for local freedom to ban or otherwise regulate the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.
Processing what happened at the 2026 General Assembly: We continue to explore the dynamics behind the defeat of our bills in their first debates on both the House and Senate sides. [check out the February 2026 newsletter for more details]. We have learned that among the paid lobbyists opposing the bills was the Virginia Turfgrass Council, which vigorously, but unsuccessfully, lobbied Delegate Rip Sullivan (patron of our House bill). You can view the VTC gloating video about how it “Blows Away Leaf Blower Ban” here. Of course, it is filled with falsehoods about the power of electric leaf blowers and such. Among possible next steps to consider would be taking the fight to the several lobbyists that spoke against our bills at the 2026 General Assembly session.
Arlington Update: The spring/summer schedule for the Arlington County Board to consider amending the noise ordinance to ban gas-powered leaf blowers after a transition period of up to three years is still to be determined. However, we have tentatively scheduled several May dates to have a table at farmers markets in Arlington to help push a positive outcome. Although it would be inappropriate for non-Arlington QC NOVA members to testify in favor of a ban during the upcoming public process, it would be a good idea for everyone to pitch in to help with leafletting and tabling events. A win in Arlington could help make more dominoes such as Falls Church City and even Fairfax City fall.
At the EcoActionArlington annual meeting on March 11, EcoAction put banning GLBs at the very top of its list of advocacy goals for the coming year. The Arlington County Board member in attendance – Board chair Matt deFerranti – made reference in his remarks to banning GLBs this summer (i.e., starting the transition process).