ConnecticutConnecticut bars balloon releases and requires weights on retail balloons
Connecticut bars people and organizations from knowingly releasing filled helium balloons, and covered retailers must attach weights before giving them to consumers starting January 1, 2027.
What it does
People and organizations must not knowingly release or arrange the release of, or intentionally cause the release of, any helium or other lighter-than-air gas-filled balloon in Connecticut.
Starting January 1, 2027, covered retailers must attach a weight that keeps each filled balloon from rising before giving it to a consumer. The state imposes a $20 penalty for each violation.
Argument forThe release ban and required retail weights could keep more balloons from drifting away and becoming litter.
Argument againstPeople organizing celebrations may have fewer ways to use these balloons because the law bars knowingly arranging their release.
More detail
People and organizations must not knowingly release or arrange the release of, or intentionally cause the release of, any helium or other lighter-than-air gas-filled balloon. This applies to people, nonprofits, businesses, corporations, the state, and its local governments in Connecticut. This rule takes effect October 1, 2026.
Covered retailers must attach a weight to each filled helium or other lighter-than-air gas balloon before providing it to a consumer. This applies to retailers selling or offering these filled balloons to consumers in Connecticut. The weight must keep the balloon from rising into the air. A covered retailer is a business that uses universal product codes to total a customer's purchase; carnivals are excluded. The Department of Consumer Protection imposes a $20 civil penalty for each violation. The section takes effect October 1, 2026; the retailer requirement applies on and after January 1, 2027.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27SIGNED BY Governor Ned LamontBecame Law
- May 22TRANSMITTED BY SECRETARY OF THE STATE TO GOVERNORTo Governor
- May 22TRANSMITTED TO SECRETARY OF THE STATE
- May 19PUBLIC ACT 26-90
- May 5IN CONCURRENCE
- Vote recorded House Roll Call Vote. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded House Roll Call Vote 269. Result: pass.Lower
- May 5HOUSE PASSED, SEN. AMEND. SCH. APassed House
- May 5HOUSE ADOPTED SEN. AMEND. SCH. AMajor
- Apr 22HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 488
- Apr 22FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDARMinor
- Apr 21SEN. PASSED, SEN. AMEND. SCH. APassed Senate
- Vote recorded Senate Roll Call Vote 126. Result: fail.Upper
- Vote recorded Senate Roll Call Vote 127. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21SEN. REJ. SEN. AMEND. SCH. BMinor
- Apr 21SEN. ADOPTED SEN. AMEND. SCH. AMajor
- Apr 2FILE NO. 369
- Apr 2SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 256
- Apr 2FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.Minor
- Apr 2RPTD. OUT OF LCO
- Mar 27REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/01/26Minor
- Mar 19FILED WITH LCOMinor
- Mar 18Joint Favorable SubstituteMinor
- Mar 9PUBLIC HEARING 0313
- Mar 6REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON EnvironmentIntroduced
Environment & Energy