BATON ROUGE — Balloon releases will be treated as intentional littering in Louisiana starting Aug. 1, 2026.
The popular memorial activity can harm wildlife when balloons land in places where animals might mistake them for food.
Penalties for intentional littering start at $500 and eight hours of community service for a first conviction. Fines and community service increase if someone is convicted repeatedly.
The new law was a result of House Bill 851, by Rep. John Illg, R- Harahan. It was approved by both houses of the legislature and was sent to the governor’s desk on May 7. It became law without his signature on May 15.
The House approved the bill on March 31 by a vote of 88-6. The Senate approved it May 5 by a vote of 32-2
The law says that releasing a balloon or organizing a “planned, intentional release” of 12 or more balloons is intentional littering. It exempts people under 17 years old and excludes “negligent or unintentional” release of a balloon or releasing balloons indoors.
It also exempts balloons made of biodegradable or photodegradable material, weather balloons, and balloons attached to radio tracking devices used by licensed amateur radio operators.
Hot air balloons that are retrieved after they are launched are also exempt.
A group of balloons being released at an event will be treated as one violation, not one violation per balloon.
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