What's happening
This bill prohibits the intentional outdoor release of certain helium or lighter-than-air balloons, with specific exceptions for scientific and manned hot air balloons.
Why it matters
Reduces environmental harm. By banning most intentional outdoor releases of helium and lighter-than-air balloons, the bill aims to decrease litter, protect wildlife that may ingest balloon debris, and reduce non-biodegradable waste in ecosystems.
Targets electrical and mass releases. The law specifically restricts conductive (metallic) balloons—which can cause power outages if tangled in power lines—and prohibits large-scale releases of all balloon types, addressing both environmental and public safety risks.
Maintains exceptions for science and aviation. The exemption for scientific experiments and manned hot air balloons ensures that essential research, weather monitoring, and aviation activities are not disrupted, balancing environmental goals with practical needs.
Signals increased regulatory scrutiny. This measure reflects a growing legislative trend of targeting single-use plastics and non-essential balloon releases, suggesting potential for further regulation of celebratory and commercial activities that impact the environment.
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Who cares
Event planners and celebration organizers
The bill would prohibit knowingly releasing outdoors any electrically conductive balloon filled with helium or another lighter-than-air gas, or 25 or more nonconductive balloons within 24 hours.
Balloon vendors and decorators
Businesses that conduct outdoor balloon releases would need to follow the bill’s material-based restrictions and release limits.
Scientific researchers and government agencies
The bill would exempt balloons carrying scientific instruments for experiments or tests and balloons used for governmental scientific or meteorological purposes.
Manned hot air balloon operators
The bill would expressly exempt manned hot air balloons from its release restrictions.
Headline styles
Ban Outdoor Balloon Releases
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Ban Outdoor Balloon Releases
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1101
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the release of certain balloons
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 11-0331 to read as follows: § 11-0331. Release of certain balloons prohibited.
1. No person shall knowingly release or intentionally cause to be released outdoors any balloon constructed of electrically conductive material and filled with helium or a gas lighter than air.
2. No person shall knowingly release or intentionally cause to be released outdoors, within a twenty-four hour period, twenty-five or more balloons constructed of non-electrically conductive material and filled with helium or a gas lighter than air.
3. This section shall not apply to:
(a) balloons which are used for the purpose of carrying scientific instrumentation during the performance of an experiment or test or by a person on behalf of a governmental agency or pursuant to a governmental contract for scientific or meteorological purposes; or
(b) manned hot air balloons.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00076-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.