SB 20 North Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Session

Prohibiting Certain Mass Balloon Releases.

SB 20 prohibits organizing or participating in mass balloon releases using helium or similar gases that float in the atmosphere, directly affecting individuals or groups planning such events. The bill imposes a $250 fine for violations but excludes releases by government agencies for scientific/meteorological purposes or recoverable hot air balloons. It aims to protect North Carolina's wildlife, marine animals, and scenic beauty by banning balloon releases that pose environmental hazards. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Last action Jan 30, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Filed → Edition 1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill underwent minor administrative formatting changes during its transition from the filed version to Edition 1. No substantive policy changes were made to the bill's content, scope, or requirements. The changes primarily involve updating the document identifier and adding the bill's referral information to the Rules and Operations of the Senate committee.

TECHNICAL

Document identifier changed from 'DRS45013-NM-6' to 'S20-v-1' to reflect the new edition version.

Added referral information showing the bill was referred to the Rules and Operations of the Senate committee on January 30, 2025.

Updated the header formatting to include page numbering and adjusted the layout of the bill title and session information.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 30, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Introduced

Filed

upper

0 primary · 3 co-sponsors