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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.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to dump, deposit, throw or leave, or to cause or permit the dumping, depositing, placing, throwing or leaving of litter on any public or private property in this state, or in or on ice or in any waters in this state, unless:”
RSA 163-B:3
“Any fines collected under this section for littering in coastal waters or beaches and for abandoning fishing gear shall be credited to the derelict fishing gear and coastal cleanup fund established in RSA 211:77.”
RSA 163-B:4
“(a) Such property is designated by the state or by any of its agencies or political subdivisions for the disposal of such litter, and such person is authorized by the proper public authority to use such property;”
RSA 163-B:3
“It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally release or intentionally cause to be released into the atmosphere 20 or more balloons inflated with lighter-than-air gases, except for:”
RSA 163-B:3

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 7, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 22, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate3–1
    Overall
    75% yea
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamPublic Hearing
  • Mar 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety15:51–17:061m 15slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 13, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary33:54–35:021m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floor4:09:40–4:11:361m 56slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

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.