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H7073 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PROHIBITED RELEASE OF BALLOONS (Authorizes the DEM, in conjunction with state and local law enforcement, to enforce the prohibition on the intentional simultaneous release of ten or more balloons.)

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PROHIBITED RELEASE OF BALLOONS (Authorizes the DEM, in conjunction with state and local law enforcement, to enforce the prohibition on the intentional simultaneous release of ten or more balloons.)

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Donovan, Fogarty, Carson, Boylan, Speakman, Tanzi, Potter, Furtado, Kislak, Casimiro
Last action
2026-01-16
Official status
Withdrawn at sponsor's request
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-16 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Withdrawn at sponsor's request

  2. 2026-01-14 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to House Environment and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PROHIBITED RELEASE OF BALLOONS (Authorizes the DEM, in conjunction with state and local law enforcement, to enforce the prohibition on the intentional simultaneous release of ten or more balloons.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H7073

2026 -- H 7073
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LC003923
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PROHIBITED RELEASE OF BALLOONS

Introduced By:
Representatives Donovan, Fogarty, Carson, Boylan, Speakman, Tanzi,
Potter, Furtado, Kislak, and Casimiro

Date Introduced:
January 14, 2026

Referred To:
House Environment and Natural Resources
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Sections 23-96-2 and 23-96-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-96 entitled
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"Prohibited Release of Balloons" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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23-96-2. Penalties.
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(a)
Any person or entity who violates this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of one
5
hundred dollars ($100) for a first offense and up to two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for a second
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or subsequent offense.
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(b) The department of environmental management, in conjunction with state and local law
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enforcement, shall have jurisdiction and shall coordinate regarding the enforcement of the
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provisions of this chapter.
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23-96-3. Regulations.
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The department of environmental management
(the "department")
shall promulgate rules
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and regulations as may be necessary to implement and
carry out

enforce
the provisions of this
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chapter.
The department may also pursue grants to create a public information campaign to inform
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the public of the provisions of this chapter and the hazards and damages that may stem from the
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release of balloons in violation of this chapter.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC003923
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PROHIBITED RELEASE OF BALLOONS
***
1
This act would authorize the department of environmental management ("DEM"), in
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conjunction with state and local law enforcement, to enforce the prohibition on the intentional
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simultaneous release of ten (10) or more balloons. This act would also authorize the DEM to pursue
4
grants to create a public information campaign regarding the hazards and damages resulting from
5
the release of balloons.
6
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003923
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