Raised Bill No. 291, introduced to the Committee on ENVIRONMENT by the General Assembly, aims to regulate the sale of certain types of balloons in the state. The bill, effective from October 1, 2024, mandates that starting from October 1, 2027, no person shall sell, offer for sale, import, or distribute any helium or lighter-than-air gas balloon that is not biodegradable within the state. The enforcement of this provision will be the responsibility of the Commissioners of Energy and Environmental Protection and Consumer Protection, subject to the availability of resources.

The purpose of this act is to prohibit the sale of non-biodegradable helium and lighter-than-air gas balloons, as these can pose environmental hazards. The bill introduces a new section to the law that will take effect on October 1, 2024. There are no deletions indicated in the provided text, only insertions which include the bill number, the effective date of the new section, and the statement of purpose.