Lawmakers Debate Balloon Ban, Climate Insurance Fees at Environment Committee Hearing

Deputy Speaker of the House Joe Gresko, D-Stratford, asks a question during a public hearing before the Environment Committee on Friday, March 13, 2026, in Hartford. Credit: Screengrab / CT-N via Youtube

HARTFORD, CT — Lawmakers, environmental advocates, and industry representatives clashed over plastic pollution, climate policy, and invasive species Friday during the final scheduled public hearing of the legislative session for the Connecticut General Assembly’s Environment Committee.

The committee heard testimony on 13 bills.

One of the most debated proposals was Senate Bill 452, which would ban the distribution of helium for use in lighter-than-air balloons. The bill aims to reduce plastic pollution caused by the release of helium balloons.

Currently, Connecticut prohibits the intentional release of 10 or more lighter-than-air balloons within a 24-hour period. Some advocates argue for a stricter ban.

Connecticut Policy Director Robert LaFrance of the National Audubon Society testifies on several bills during the Environment Committee hearing on March 13, 2026, in Hartford. Credit: Screengrab / CT-N via Youtube

Robert LaFrance, Connecticut policy director of the National Audubon Society, testified in support of the balloon helium ban and House Bill 5524, which targets single-use plastics and polystyrene containers in restaurants.

“Birds are ingesting these plastics, causing problems with their digestion and nutrition,” LaFrance said. “It creates choking hazards and reduces their ability to process food.”

Several business owners opposed the legislation.

Allison Valentine, owner of a small balloon business, said, “We’re not against environmental protection,” but added that “a ban on helium sales would significantly impact local small businesses.”

Valentine and Christopher Edwards, owner of Beach Party Balloons, stressed the need for legislators to collaborate with balloon companies to find solutions.

“We believe there should be zero tolerance for intentional balloon releases, and any balloon sold should have a weight before leaving the store,” Edwards said, to prevent accidental or intentional releases.

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes testifies about several bills during the Environment Committee hearing on March 13, 2026, in Hartford. Credit: Screengrab / CT-N via Youtube

Katie Dykes, commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), expressed mixed views on the balloon helium ban.

“We appreciate the desire to reduce risks to wildlife,” she said, “but we have concerns about enforcing this legislation.”

Lawmakers also debated climate-related costs. SB 453 would impose a 5% climate surcharge on insurance policies covering fossil fuel infrastructure. Supporters say it would incentivize fossil fuel companies to adopt sustainable practices.

State Rep. Donna Veach, R-Berlin, speaks to an advocate about legislation to mitigate plastic pollution from lost or released helium balloons during the Environment Committee hearing on March 13, 2026, in Hartford. Credit: Screengrab / CT-N via Youtube

Julianna Larue, a Sierra Club organizer and supporter of the bill, said it “helps shift some of the financial burden back onto the industries that contribute to the problem.”

She noted that Connecticut experienced 11 federally-declared disasters between 2011 and 2024, with damages exceeding $564 million.

Addressing climate-related causes of these disasters would stabilize the insurance industry and reduce losses from natural disasters, Larue said.

“Investing in resilience reduces risks and helps ensure insurance remains available and affordable for Connecticut residents,” she added.

However, Eric George, president of the Insurance Association of Connecticut, warned the bill could have unintended consequences for consumers.

Eric George, president of the Insurance Association of Connecticut, testifies during the Environment Committee hearing on March 13, 2026, in Hartford. Credit: Screengrab / CT-N via Youtube

“We do not oppose creating a resiliency program,” George said, “but we oppose increasing home and auto insurance premiums to fund it.”

He argued that climate adaptation efforts should be funded through the state’s general fund, not insurance surcharges, to avoid passing costs onto consumers.

When asked about the impact of severe storms on insurance premiums, George said inflation and litigation costs have been larger drivers of premium increases in Connecticut.

The committee also considered HB 5525, which would establish a rapid response program for aquatic invasive species.

The bill targets hydrilla, an invasive aquatic plant affecting Connecticut waterways. The program would be coordinated by DEEP and the Office of Aquatic Invasive Species.

Rep. Renee LaMark Muir, D-Deep River, a bill sponsor, emphasized the importance of protecting the Connecticut River.

State Rep. Renee LaMark Muir, D-Deep River, testifies in favor of HB 5525, a bill to create a rapid response program for aquatic invasive species in Connecticut waterways, during the Environment Committee hearing on March 13, 2026, in Hartford.
Credit: Kellyn Kolber / for CTNewsJunkie via The Active Voice

“In my district — Essex, Chester, and Deep River — the Connecticut River is central to our environment, economy, history, and way of life,” she said.

She warned that without intervention, invasive plants could continue damaging ecosystems statewide. She estimated that over 60% of Connecticut’s waterways, lakes, and ponds are infested with invasive species.

“While Connecticut has begun important steps to manage hydrilla, we lag behind neighboring New England states,” LaMark Muir said. “The longer we wait, the harder and more expensive the problem becomes.”

Dykes said DEEP supports the bill’s goals but raised concerns about feasibility and potential conflicts with Connecticut’s herbicide regulations.

The committee has until March 25 to act on the bills to advance them for further debate in the House and Senate.