New Hampshire

New Hampshire introduces HB 62, this bill prohibits the release of lighter-than-air balloons into the air and establishes penalties for violations of this prohibition.

House Bill No. 62 sponsored by Assemblyman Waterhouse was introduced on January 9, 2006.
On March 8^th it went from the House Committee on Environment to the House Floor and was marked as ought to pass with amendments.
It is scheduled to cross-over to the Senate Environment Committee
The Balloon Council is working with Senate Chairwoman Clark on scheduling a hearing for HB 62. The Balloon Council as well as retailers will testify at hearing.

Massachusetts

Legislation that would ban the release of 10 or more balloons into the environment was introduced. Massachusetts.

House Bill No. 795 sponsored by Assemblyman Kujawski was introduced on January 10, 2007.
The Bill has been scheduled for a hearing on Monday, May 14, 2007. The Balloon Council will testify at hearing.

New York

Legislation that would ban the release of 25 or more balloons into the environment was introduced. The Assembly bill was re-filed from last session as the bills did not move in the previous legislative cycle.

Assembly Bill 449, sponsored by Assemblyman Alexander (Pete) Grannis (D-Manhattan) was introduced and referred to the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 3, 2007.

TBC WEBSITE AND HOTLINE

The Balloon Council website has generated 1 request for 50 retailer kits, and 9 requests for email updates, while the legislative hotline and email service received 32 inquiries. Inquiries focused on the following issues:

× Balloon distributor referrals;

× Non-latex balloon suppliers;

× Balloon releases;

× General Information

Retailers continue to rely on the TBC balloon hotline and email service to ensure that their balloon practices are conforming to state and local laws.

2006 Second Quarter Legislative Update

BALLOON RELATED LEGISLATION

Maryland

Legislation that would ban the release of 20 or more balloons into the environment was introduced in 2005.

• House Bill 1241, sponsored by Delegate Barbara A. Frush (D-Calverton) was introduced and referred to the House Environmental Matters Committee on February, 11, 2005.
• The Balloon Council testified before of the House Environmental Matters Committee at the first hearing on March 16, 2005.
• The Balloon Council sent a letter to Delegate McIntosh, Madam Chairman of the Environmental Matters Committee copying all Members of the Environmental Matters Committee encouraging them to give House Bill 1241 an unfavorable report.
• Members of the Environmental Matters Committee will not be making a formal recommendation until fall 2005.
• House Bill 1241 received an unfavorable committee report and did not become law in 2005.
• There has not been balloon release legislation introduced in 2006 as of this report date.

Massachusetts

Legislation that would ban the release of 10 or more balloons into the environment was introduced in 2005.

• House Bill 1344, sponsored by Representative Paul Kujawski (D-Worcester) was introduced and referred to the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture on January 5, 2005.
• The Balloon Council testified before the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture on July 25, 2005.
• The Balloon Council sent a letter to Chairpersons Resor and Smizik, of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture copying all Members of the Committee encouraging them to give House Bill 1344 an unfavorable report.
• On October 25, 2005 The Environment and Natural Resources referred House Bill 1344 to a study.

New York

• Assembly Bill 1373, sponsored by Assemblyman Alexander (Pete) Grannis (D-Manhattan) was introduced and referred to the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 19, 2005.
• Assembly Bill 1373 was referred to Assembly Committee on Codes from the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on May 17, 2005.
• Assembly Bill 1373 was Withdrawn from Assembly committee on Codes on January, 4, 2006 and moved to Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation.

TBC WEBSITE AND HOTLINE

The Balloon Council website has generated 10 requests for retailer kits, and 16 requests for email updates, while the legislative hotline and email service received 52 inquiries. Inquiries focused on the following issues:

Balloon distributor referrals
Non-latex balloon suppliers
Balloon releases
General Information

Retailers continue to rely on the TBC balloon hotline and email service to ensure that their balloon practices are conforming to state and local laws.

Archives for the Balloon Council Reports

You can access the previous online reports here:

			Fall 2000
	Spring 2001	Summer 2001	Fall 2001
	Second Quarter 2002	Third Quarter 2002
First Quarter 2003	Second Quarter 2003		Fourth Quarter 2003
First Quarter 2004	Second Quarter 2004	Third Quarter 2004	Fourth Quarter 2004
First Quarter 2005	Second Quarter 2005

First Quarter 2006

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