Connecticut legislation · 2026 General Assembly
Connecticut SB452: AN ACT CONCERNING THE RELEASE OF LIGHTER-THAN-AIR BALLOONS.
Status: Signed into law, May 27, 2026
What the bill says
An act concerning the release of lighter-than-air balloons. assembly convened.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT CONCERNING THE RELEASE OF LIGHTER-THAN-AIR BALLOONS. Assembly convened: Section 1. Section 26-25c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): (a) No person, nonprofit organization, firm or corporation, including the state and its political subdivisions, shall knowingly release, organize the release of or intentionally cause to be released into the atmosphere [within a twenty-four-hour period ten or more] any helium or other lighter-than-air gas [balloons] filled balloon in the state. (b) Any violation of [subsection (a) of] this section shall be an infraction. Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) On and after January 1, 2027, any retailer that sells or offers for sale any helium or other lighterthan-air gas filled balloon in the state to any consumer shall not provide such filled balloon to a consumer unless a weight is attached to such filled balloon that is sufficient to prevent such filled balloon from rising into the atmosphere. (b) Any retailer who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this Substitute Senate Bill No. 452 section shall be subject to a civil penalty imposed by the Department of Consumer Protection in the amount of twenty dollars per violation. (c) For purposes of this section, "retailer" means any firm, partnership, association or corporation that utilizes universal product …
Sponsors
- Joseph Gresko (D, 121) · primary sponsor
- Irene Haines (R, 34)
- Joshua Elliott (D, 88)
- Nicholas Menapace (D, 37)
- Laurie Sweet (D, 91)
- Aundre Bumgardner (D, 41)
- Nicholas Gauthier (D, 38)
- Hector Arzeno (D, 151)
- John-Michael Parker (D, 101)
- Michael Shannon (D, 117)
- Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R, 105)
- Kenneth Gucker (D, 138)
Latest actions
- : Signed by the Governor
- : Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
- : Transmitted to the Secretary of State
- : Public Act 26-90
- : In Concurrence
- : House Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A
- : House Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A
- : House Calendar Number 488
- : Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
- : Senate Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A
Votes
- House Roll Call 269 (May 5, 2026): 112 yea, 36 nay, passed
- Senate Roll Call 127 (April 21, 2026): 31 yea, 4 nay, passed
- Senate Roll Call 126 (April 21, 2026): 11 yea, 25 nay, failed
- ENV Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) (March 18, 2026): 34 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Violations, Energy and Environmental Protection, Department of, Air pollution
Common questions
- What is SB452?
- SB452 is a bill in the Connecticut Legislature (2026 General Assembly): AN ACT CONCERNING THE RELEASE OF LIGHTER-THAN-AIR BALLOONS.
- What does SB452 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning the release of lighter-than-air balloons. assembly convened.
- What is the status of SB452?
- Signed into law as of May 27, 2026. Latest action: Signed by the Governor (May 27, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB452?
- Joseph Gresko (D, 121), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB452?
- On the Connecticut Legislature website: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB00452&which_year=2026
Source: official Connecticut record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.