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| 2 | 2 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1366 FILED ON: 1/14/2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1725 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Homar Gómez |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act to ban the release of balloons. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Homar Gómez2nd Hampshire1/14/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/31/2025 1 of 3 |
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| 16 | 16 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1366 FILED ON: 1/14/2025 |
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| 17 | 17 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1725 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Representative Gómez of Easthampton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1725) of |
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| 19 | 19 | | Homar Gómez and Joanne M. Comerford for legislation to ban the intentional release of |
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| 20 | 20 | | balloons. The Judiciary. |
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| 21 | 21 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 22 | 22 | | _______________ |
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| 23 | 23 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
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| 24 | 24 | | (2025-2026) |
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| 25 | 25 | | _______________ |
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| 26 | 26 | | An Act to ban the release of balloons. |
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| 27 | 27 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 28 | 28 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 29 | 29 | | 1 Section 1: Title This Act shall be known as the Balloon Release Prohibition Act |
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| 30 | 30 | | 2 Section 2: Purpose The purpose of this Act is to ban the intentional release of balloons, |
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| 31 | 31 | | 3which pose a severe threat to wildlife and the environment. Balloons released into the |
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| 32 | 32 | | 4atmosphere often end up in waterways and natural areas, where they cause infinite harm to |
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| 33 | 33 | | 5wildlife through ingestion, entanglement, and habitat pollution. |
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| 34 | 34 | | 6 Section 3: Definitions |
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| 35 | 35 | | 7 1. Balloon: Any inflatable object made of latex, mylar, or other materials designed |
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| 36 | 36 | | 8to be filled with gas and released into the atmosphere. |
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| 37 | 37 | | 9 2. Wildlife: All animals, including but not limited to birds, mammals, reptiles, |
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| 38 | 38 | | 10amphibians, and aquatic species. |
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| 39 | 39 | | 11 3. Endangered Species: Any species listed as endangered under state or federal law. 2 of 3 |
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| 40 | 40 | | 12 Section 4: Prohibition of Balloon Releases |
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| 41 | 41 | | 13 1. Effective immediately upon enactment, it shall be unlawful to: |
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| 42 | 42 | | 14 a. Intentionally release any balloon into the atmosphere, whether for ceremonial, |
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| 43 | 43 | | 15celebratory, or promotional purposes. |
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| 44 | 44 | | 16 Section 5: Penalties |
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| 45 | 45 | | 17 1. Any individual or entity found in violation of this Act shall be subject to a fine of |
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| 46 | 46 | | 18$50 for the first offense, $150 for the second offense and $250 thereafter per offense. |
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| 47 | 47 | | 19 2. Each intentional balloon release shall constitute a separate offense. |
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| 48 | 48 | | 20 Section 6: Public Education and Awareness |
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| 49 | 49 | | 21 1. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife shall develop and |
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| 50 | 50 | | 22implement a public education campaign to inform residents about: |
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| 51 | 51 | | 23 a. The environmental harm caused by balloon releases. |
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| 52 | 52 | | 24 b. Sustainable celebratory alternatives to balloon releases. |
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| 53 | 53 | | 25 2. The campaign shall include informational materials and resources accessible |
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| 54 | 54 | | 26through the Division’s website and local community organizations. |
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| 55 | 55 | | 27 Section 7: Severability If any provision of this Act or its application is held to be invalid, |
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| 56 | 56 | | 28that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Act which can be given |
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| 57 | 57 | | 29effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end, the provisions of this Act are |
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| 58 | 58 | | 30severable. 3 of 3 |
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| 59 | 59 | | 31 Section 8: Effective Date This Act shall take effect 90 days after its passage. |
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| 60 | 60 | | 32 Legislative Declaration The Commonwealth recognizes that balloon releases represent a |
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| 61 | 61 | | 33significant environmental hazard, inflicting unnecessary harm on wildlife and polluting natural |
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| 62 | 62 | | 34habitats. By banning this practice, Massachusetts reaffirms its commitment to the protection of |
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| 63 | 63 | | 35the environment and the preservation of wildlife. |
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