HB0418 Summary

• Amends the Environmental Protection Act to add Section 52.10, which prohibits any person from releasing or causing the release of balloons into the air.

• Provides exceptions to the balloon release prohibition for balloons used by institutions of higher education or governmental agencies for scientific or meteorological purposes, balloons released and remaining indoors, and helium balloons used for hot air balloon operations.

• Establishes enforcement penalties under Section 42(b)(8): first violation results in a warning from the Agency; second violation carries a civil penalty up to $500; third or subsequent violations carry a civil penalty up to $1,000.

• Defines "balloon" as any inflatable object made from plastic, latex, rubber, or mylar filled with lighter-than-air gas such as helium, excluding hot air balloons used to carry human passengers.

• Counts release of up to 50 balloons as a single offense, with each additional 50 balloons constituting a separate violation.

• Takes effect January 1, 2022.