California Balloon Law

The law was passed in an effort to reduce power outages due to metallized Mylar or foil balloons.

[citation needed] The law also prohibits a person from selling or distributing a balloon filled with a gas lighter than air that is attached to an electrically conductive string, tether, streamer, or other electrically conductive appurtenance, or attached to another balloon, as specified.

A senate bill was proposed to ban the sale of all foil balloons by the year 2010 due to the increased number of power outages.

[1] According to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, there are 100–150 power outages each year due to metallic balloons.

[1] Due to strong opposition by numerous groups, this bill was amended to require notification of potential power outages on all balloon weights and directs the University of California to work with the Public Utilities Commission to identify a cost-effective, consumer-friendly substitute for metallic balloons.