Connecticut Bans Outdoor Balloon Releases

0:00Connecticut Senate just passed a bill banning the outdoor release of helium balloons to keep wildlife safe from eating them or getting tangled up. Senate bill 452 drops the daily limit from 10 balloons to zero and it keeps the fine up to $75 for violators. Retailers now have to sell balloons with weights attached or face a $20 fine. This came after an earlier version that wanted to ban all lighter than air balloon sales got dialed back at business requests. Environmental groups and animal rescuers are cheering it on, saying it'll cut down on birds like peregrine falcons getting hurt, especially around. Graduation time when strings snag wings and cause permanent damage. Some communities worried about losing balloon releases for gun violence memorials, but after softening penalties, the bill sailed through with A, 35 to 4 vote. Now it heads to the house, and if Governor Ned Lamont signs it, Connecticut joins nearly a dozen other states protecting its skies and seas from this. Hidden Hazard

1:00Local news, powered by AI. This is Hartford News Today. I'm Cory with the story.