Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Rhode Island General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-29. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
H7073 2026 -- H 7073 ======== LC003923 ======== 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 2 Prohibited Release of Balloons are hereby amended to read as follows: 3 23-96-2. Penalties. 4 (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 6 or subsequent offense. 7 (b) The department of environmental management, in conjunction with state and local law 8 enforcement, shall have jurisdiction and shall coordinate regarding the enforcement of the 9 provisions of this chapter. 10 23-96-3. Regulations. 11 The department of environmental management (the department ) shall promulgate rules 12 and regulations as may be necessary to implement and carry out enforce the provisions of this 13 chapter. The department may also pursue grants to create a public information campaign to inform 14 the public of the provisions of this chapter and the hazards and damages that may stem from the 15 release of balloons in violation of this chapter. 16 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC003923 ======== 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 2 conjunction with state and local law enforcement, to enforce the prohibition on the intentional 3 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. ======== LC003923 ======== LC003923 - Page 2 of 2
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