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HB 387 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Ban on releasing balloons outdoors

AI-generated

relative to balloons being released into the air.

Prohibits the release of lighter-than-air balloons into the air and establishes penalties for violations of the prohibition.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits the release of lighter-than-air balloons into the air and establishes penalties for violations of this prohibition.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Janet WallDPrimeRanking Member· Legislative Administration

Public testimony

101 signed in online · 39 wrote testimony

92% support7% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I was skeptical of this bill until I saw these photographs. (Photos from US Fish and Wildlife Service) https://www.fws.gov/story/2015-08/balloons-and-wildlife-please-dont-release-your-balloons”
— David Meuse, Portsmouth · Rockingham 37supports
“I support this, people should no be allowed to release such balloons, causing impact to the general environment.”
— Mary Odum, SOMMERSWORTHsupports
“I spend a lot of time in SW NH woods and have collected a 35 gal. garbage bag full of plastic or Mylar ballons in my wanderings. Why is this not littering? Whoever releases these baloons should be fined for littering (if they don't retieve them).”
— Ben Haubrich, Francestownsupports
“I completely agree with the sentiment, but this would be useless and ineffective because there is no conceivable means of enforcement.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes
“"Deflated balloons pose a serious threat to the life and well being of wildlife and marine animals via ingestion or entanglement with attached ribbons." Where is the data to support this statement?”
— Gordon Springate, wiltonopposes
“The bill should be amended to prohibit one or more balloons, not 20 or more, because even just one balloon released into the air is litter.”
— William Trently, Strathamneutral

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-02-0610:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearingcancelled
  • 2025-02-1210:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearing
  • 2025-03-0710:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearing
  • 2025-05-131:00 pmSenate JudiciarySH 100Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 3 P. 7
  2. Feb 6, 2025House==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 02/06/2025 11:15 am LOB 202-204
  3. Feb 12, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/12/2025 11:15 am LOB 202-204
  4. Mar 7, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/07/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  5. Mar 7, 2025House: Ought to Pass 03/07/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC)
  6. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 7
  7. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 9
  8. May 13, 2025SenHearing: 05/13/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 21
  9. May 22, 2025Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate, 05/22/2025, Vote 3-1; SC 22
  10. May 22, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/22/2025; SJ 14

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.