Nevada committee holds hearing on bill to ban intentional outdoor release of helium balloons

Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Houdegui, sponsor of Assembly Bill 194, and witnesses told the Assembly Committee on Judiciary on March 21, 2025, that intentional outdoor releases of balloons filled with gases lighter than air pose environmental and public-safety risks and should be restricted statewide.

The bill would prohibit intentionally releasing balloons that are lighter than air; an amendment discussed at the hearing removes a numeric threshold from the draft (previously 10 or more balloons in a 24-hour period) and instead establishes a single civil penalty of up to $250 per violation, allows enforcement by the attorney general, district attorneys or city attorneys, and permits injunctions. The amendment also lists exemptions for recovered hot-air balloons, governmental or scientific research projects and indoor releases that do not escape into the environment.

AB 194, the sponsor said, is intended to reduce litter and wildlife harm and to protect critical infrastructure, particularly electric utilities. "Balloon releases, while often symbolic, pose significant environmental and safety hazards," Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Houdegui said in opening remarks. She cited prior state and local steps, including a 2023 law that regulated electrically conductive foil balloons and a Las Vegas ordinance banning outdoor balloon releases.

Ryan Bellows, vice president of government and external relations at NV Energy, described operational and safety impacts on the utility. "When these foil balloons are released, they can spark when they hit our infrastructure, and they can damage our equipment," Bellows said, adding that balloons have been a recurring cause of outages in Southern Nevada. Bellows said the company has logged "hundreds of outages over the last five years" tied to balloons and that a March 2 release in downtown Las Vegas knocked out power for about 10,000 customers for a few hours. He also said balloons can melt onto lines, requiring line crews to remove debris by hand with specialized equipment.

City Councilwoman Nancy Bruni of Las Vegas, who sponsored the city's ordinance, told the committee local experience has emphasized education more than enforcement. "We want to work with people. We know that the first step really is education and raising awareness," Bruni said, noting that Las Vegas conducted a business-impact survey before adopting the ordinance and reported no negative feedback from businesses at that time. Bruni and Bellows said coordinated public-awareness campaigns — timed before major events such as graduations — are part of the strategy.

Witnesses from conservation groups and community volunteers urged the committee to act. Christian Daniels of the Desert Balloon Project said volunteers have found extensive balloon litter in remote desert areas and that the group has removed thousands of balloons during cleanup efforts. "I've hiked over a thousand miles and picked up more than 4,000 balloons," Daniels said. Kerry Rohrmeier of The Nature Conservancy in Nevada also testified in support.

A representative of the Nevada State director of the Fine and Feas Justice Center expressed light opposition focused on penalties, and recommended a warning-first approach to ensure rural residents receive education before fines. "The bill as written was deeply concerning with a possible $250 fine," Nick Sheepeck said, adding that a warning provision would remove their opposition.

Committee members asked several operational and legal questions: how officials would distinguish intentional from accidental releases (sponsors said the bill targets organized releases such as memorial or celebratory events), whether vendors should be required to warn buyers (the sponsor declined to add a business mandate), and whether utilities can recover replacement or repair costs if a balloon damages infrastructure (NV Energy said the company can pursue claims when a responsible party is identified, but could not point to a recent recovery related to a balloon). Members also discussed biodegradability; witnesses said Mylar/foil balloons are not biodegradable and noted that latex balloons can persist for years, with one witness citing an EPA estimate of five to 10 years for latex degradation.

No formal committee vote on AB 194 was recorded during the hearing. After public testimony and questions, the committee chair closed the hearing on the bill.

The record of the hearing includes the sponsor's proposed amendment language that: removes the numeric-count trigger, sets civil penalties (up to $250), designates enforcement authorities and funds that would receive penalties depending on the enforcing entity, and lists enumerated exemptions. Proponents urged pairing any law with public-education efforts; opponents generally suggested a warning-first approach and requested clearer rural outreach.