California will become the first state to ban the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers under legislation signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The Democrat also on Saturday signed a bill mandating that stores have gender-neutral toy and child-care aisles and another that requires students to take an ethnic-studies class before graduating high school, ahead of a Sunday deadline to approve or veto bills passed in the legislative session that ended in September.
None of the new laws are effective immediately.
The ban on sales of gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers and other small off-road equipment engines could start as early as 2024, as part of the state’s effort to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. Opponents said having to rely solely on electric equipment that needs to be recharged would be burdensome for professional landscapers and gardeners.
Mr. Newsom last year signed an order that aims to end the sale of gas-powered passenger cars in the state by 2035. California has long been one of the most aggressive states in the country in regulating emissions that contribute to air pollution. Because of California’s size, the rules the state implements often impact what companies manufacture and sell nationally.