What's happening
This bill prohibits the outdoor release of certain helium-filled balloons in New York, with specific exceptions for scientific and manned hot air balloons.
Why it matters
Addresses environmental concerns. by targeting the release of both metallic and non-metallic helium balloons, which often become litter, harm wildlife, and contribute to pollution in waterways and landscapes.
Reduces risks to infrastructure and public safety. , as metallic (electrically conductive) balloons can cause power outages and electrical hazards when they make contact with power lines.
Does not criminalize all releases. , but sets a threshold (25 or more non-metallic balloons within 24 hours) to avoid penalizing individuals for small, unintentional releases while still deterring large-scale balloon releases often associated with events.
Preserves scientific research and aviation activities. by specifically exempting balloons used for meteorological, government, or scientific experiments and manned hot air balloons, limiting the law’s impact on research and recreation.
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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 with such gas within 24 hours.
Balloon retailers and decorators
Businesses that conduct outdoor balloon releases would face the same prohibitions on conductive balloons and mass releases of nonconductive balloons.
Scientific researchers and government contractors
The bill would exempt balloons carrying scientific instruments during experiments or tests and those used for specified governmental scientific or meteorological purposes.
Manned hot air balloon operators
The bill would expressly exempt manned hot air balloons from the release restrictions.
Headline styles
Ban Outdoor Balloon Releases
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 27
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- 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 Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Deborah Glick
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
75
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sens. KAVANAGH, KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the release of certain balloons
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to reduce the negative environmental impact of helium balloons by prohibiting the mass release of helium balloons outdoors.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends the environmental conservation law by adding new section 11-0331 which prohibits the outdoor release of twen- ty-five or more balloons constructed of electrically conductive material and filled with helium or a gas lighter than air. This section does not apply to balloons which are used for the purpose of carrying scientific instrumentation for scientific or meteorological purposes or manned hot air balloons.
Read the full memo (718 words)
Section two sets forth the effective date.
Justification
While the release of balloons outdoors may seem like a harmless activ- ity, the litter caused by these balloons have a significant impact on the environment. Balloons released outdoors infiltrate ecosystems and can pose hazards for marine life, birds, and other animals. In addition, these balloons can also become entangled in power lines and result in power outages. This bill, based in part on a California law, would serve to protect the environment and wildlife by reasonably limiting outdoor balloon release.
Prior legislative history
2024: S605A (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION /A4006 (Glick) -referred to environmental conservation
2023: S605A (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION /A4006 (Glick) -referred to environmental conservation
Senate:
2022: S2812A (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2021: S2812A (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2020: S2320 (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2019: S2320 (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2018: S7094 (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2012: S2750A (Lavalle) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2011: S2750A (Lavalle) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2010: S0869 (Lavalle) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2009: S0869 (Lavalle) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2008: S0216 (Lavalle) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2007: S0216 (Lavalle) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2006: S0714 (Lavalle) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2005: S0714 (Lavalle) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2004: S0920 (Lavalle) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2003: S0920 (Lavalle) - Referred to Environmental Conservation; reported to Rules
Similar Senate Bill:
2022: S0802 (Biaggi) Referred to Environmental Conservation
2021: S0802 (Biaggi) Referred to Environmental Conservation
2020: S6777 (Biaggi) Referred to Environmental Conservation
2019: S6777 (Biaggi) - Referred to Rules
Assembly:
2022: A3021 (Englebright) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2021: A3021 (Englebright) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2020: A4754 (Englebright) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2019: A4754 (Englebright) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2017: A1832 (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental Conservation; enact- ing clause stricken
2016: A05791 (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2015: A05791 (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental Conservation; reported to Codes
2014: A01045 (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2013: A01045 (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2012: A02160 (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental Conservation; reported to Ccdes, Rules
2011: A02160 (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental. Conservation; reported to Codes, Rules, Floor
2010: A00709 (Kavanagh) - Referred to Environmental Conservation; reported to Codes, Rules, Floor
2009: A00709 (Kavanagh) - Passed Assembly
2008: A07630 (Kavanagh) - Passed Assembly
2007: A07630 (Kavanagh) - Passed Assembly
2007: A00449 (Grannis) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2006: A01373 (Grannis) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2005: A01373 (Grannis) - Referred to Environmental Conservation; reported to Codes
2004: A01850 (Grannis) - Referred to Environmental Conservation; reported to Codes
2003: A01850 (Grannis) - Referred to Environmental Conservation; reported to Codes
2002: A00299 (Grannis) - Referred to Environmental Conservation; reported to Codes
2001: A00299 (Grannis) - Referred to Environmental Conservation - Referred to Environmental Conservation;
2000: A01151 (Grannis) - Referred to Environmental Conservation; reported to Codes
1999: A01151 (Grannis) - Referred to Environmental Conservation; reported to Codes
1998: A00464 (Grannis) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
1997: A00464 - (Grannis) - Referred to Envirnnmental Conservation
1996: A00638 (Grannis) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
1995: A00638 (Grannis) - Passed Assembly
1994: A00617 (Grannis) Passed Assembly
1993: A00617 (Grannis) Passed Assembly
1992: A05278 (Grannis) Passed Assembly
1991: A05278 (Grannis) - Passed Assembly
1990: A09603 (Grannis) - Referred to Rules
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.