Louisiana 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 19 R · 5 D cosponsors

HB 851 — ENVIRONMENT/LITTERING: Provides relative to intentional littering

Last action — Becomes Act No. 196 without the Governor's signature.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 27, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Jeff Landry (Republican) on May 15, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 24 sponsors

    1 primary, 23 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (19 R · 5 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill prohibits the intentional release of balloons in Louisiana.

This legislation makes it illegal to intentionally release balloons or organize events involving the release of twelve or more balloons, with certain exceptions. There are penalties for violations, which must be cited within a year of the act.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

23 added · 31 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill HB 851, the reference to "ACT No. 196" has been removed. This change matters because it clarifies the legislation by eliminating outdated or unnecessary references, making it easier for people to understand what the bill addresses. It simplifies the text and helps ensure that the legislation is current and relevant.

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Latest
HLS 26RS-1146 REENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
ENROLLED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
851 BY REPRESENTATIVES ILLG, BAYHAM, COATES, COX, DESHOTEL, DEWITT, DICKERSON,DOMANGUE,FREIBERG,GEYMANN,GREEN,DANAHENRY, TRAVIS JOHNSON, JACOB LANDRY, MANDIE LANDRY, MACK, MOORE, ORGERON, RISER, SAWYER, SCHAMERHORN, SCHLEGEL, AND ZERINGUE AND SENATOR CATHEY ENVIRONMENT/LITTERING:
851 BY REPRESENTATIVES ILLG, BAYHAM, COATES, COX, DESHOTEL, DEWITT, DICKERSON,DOMANGUE,FREIBERG,GEYMANN,GREEN,DANAHENRY, TRAVIS JOHNSON, JACOB LANDRY, MANDIE LANDRY, MACK, MOORE, ORGERON, RISER, SAWYER, SCHAMERHORN, SCHLEGEL, AND ZERINGUE AND SENATOR CATHEY AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.
Provides relative to intentional littering AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.
30:2531(A)(5), relative to littering;topreventtheintentionalreleaseofballoons;to provideforexceptionsand penalties;
30:2531(A)(5), relative to littering;topreventtheintentionalreleaseofballoons;
to provideforexceptionsand penalties;
Section 1.
Section 1.R.S.
R.S.
(iii) The release of a balloon indoors.
HLS 26RS-1146 REENGROSSED HB NO.
HB NO.
851 (iii) The release of a balloon indoors.
851 ENROLLED (iv) The release of a balloon made of biodegradable or photobiodegradable material.
(iv) The release of a balloon made of biodegradable or photobiodegradable material.
(vi) The release of a balloon that is attached to aradio tracking device by a person who holds a valid amateur radio operator license.
(vi) The release of a balloon that is attached to a radio tracking device by a person who holds a valid amateur radio operator license.
* * * DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.
* * * SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:
Itconstitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.
Page 2 of 2 CODING:
The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.
[R.S.
1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 851 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Illg Abstract:
Prohibits the intentional release of balloons and provides for exceptions and penalties.
Present law prohibits intentional littering and provides for penalties.
Proposed law adds the intentional release of balloons to the provisions of present law.
(Amends R.S.
30:2531(A)(4);
Adds R.S.
30:2531(A)(5)) Page 2 of 2 CODING:
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Amendments

1 amendment

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Becomes Act No. 196 without the Governor's signature.

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate.

  4. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

  5. Received from the Senate without amendments.

  6. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  7. Read by title, passed by a vote of 32 yeas and 2 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  8. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

  9. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  10. Reported favorably.

  11. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.

  12. Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  13. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 88, nays 6. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  14. Scheduled for floor debate on 03/31/2026.

  15. Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  16. Reported favorably (17-0-1).

  17. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

  18. Prefiled.

  19. Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

  20. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 23 co-sponsors · 123 not signed on · 8 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (23)

Not signed on (123)

123 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 123 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

FINAL PASSAGE (#569)

Passed 32 Yea · 2 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
Democrat 6203
Republican 25002
Total 32205
% of votes cast 82%5%0%13%
How each member voted (39)
Member Party Vote
Mr. President — Yea
Edward J. Price Democrat Nay
Gary Carter Democrat Yea
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Nay
Jay Luneau Democrat Yea
Jimmy Harris Democrat Yea
Katrina R. Jackson-Andrews Democrat Yea
Larry Selders Democrat Not Voting
Regina Barrow Democrat Not Voting
Royce Duplessis Democrat Not Voting
Sam Jenkins Democrat Yea
Sidney Barthelemy II Democrat Yea
Adam Bass Republican Yea
Alan Seabaugh Republican Yea
Beth Mizell Republican Yea
Blake Miguez Republican Yea
Bob Hensgens Republican Yea
Brach Jerad Myers Republican Yea
Caleb Kleinpeter Republican Yea
Eddie J. Lambert Republican Yea
Franklin J. Foil Republican Yea
Glen Womack Republican Yea
Gregory A. Miller Republican Yea
Heather Cloud Republican Yea
Jeremy Stine Republican Yea
John C. "Jay" Morris Republican Yea
Jr., William "Bill" Wheat Republican Yea
Kirk Talbot Republican Yea
Mark Abraham Republican Yea
Michael "Big Mike" Fesi Republican Yea
Mike Reese Republican Not Voting
Patrick Connick Republican Not Voting
Patrick McMath Republican Yea
Rick Edmonds Republican Yea
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Yea
Robert Allain Republican Yea
Stewart Jr. Cathey Republican Yea
Thomas A. Pressly Republican Yea
Valarie Hodges Republican Yea

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE (#241)

Passed 88 Yea · 6 Nay · 11 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7000
Republican 60206
Democrat 21405
Total 886011
% of votes cast 84%6%0%10%
How each member voted (105)
Member Party Vote
Mr. Speaker — Yea
Amedee — Yea
Galle — Yea
Stagni — Yea
Johnson, T. — Yea
Landry, T. — Yea
St. Blanc — Yea
Adrian Fisher Democrat Yea
Aimee Adatto Freeman Democrat Yea
Alonzo L. Knox Democrat Not Voting
Barbara Carpenter Democrat Yea
C. Denise Marcelle Democrat Yea
Candace N. Newell Democrat Yea
Chasity Martinez Democrat Yea
Dana Henry Democrat Yea
Delisha Boyd Democrat Yea
Ed Murray Democrat Yea
Edmond Jordan Democrat Nay
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Yea
III, Ed Larvadain Democrat Not Voting
Joy Walters Democrat Nay
Jr., Kyle M. Green Democrat Yea
Ken Brass Democrat Yea
Mandie Landry Democrat Yea
Marcus Anthony Bryant Democrat Not Voting
Pat Moore Democrat Yea
Rashid Armand Young Democrat Not Voting
Robby Carter Democrat Yea
Rodney Lyons Democrat Yea
Roy Daryl Adams Democrat Yea
Shaun Raphael Mena Democrat Yea
Sr., Wilford Carter Democrat Nay
Steven Jackson Democrat Yea
Sylvia Elaine Taylor Democrat Yea
Tammy T. Phelps Democrat Not Voting
Tehmi Jahi Chassion Democrat Nay
Vanessa Caston LaFleur Democrat Yea
Annie Spell Republican Not Voting
Barbara Reich Freiberg Republican Yea
Beth Anne Billings Republican Yea
Brett F. Geymann Republican Yea
Brian Leonard Glorioso Republican Yea
Bryan Fontenot Republican Yea
Chad Michael Boyer Republican Yea
Chance Keith Henry Republican Yea
Christopher Turner Republican Yea
Danny McCormick Republican Yea
Daryl Andrew Deshotel Republican Yea
Debbie Villio Republican Yea
Dixon Wallace McMakin Republican Nay
Dodie Horton Republican Yea
Emily Chenevert Republican Yea
Foy Bryan Gadberry Republican Yea
Francis C. Thompson Republican Yea
Gregory A. Miller Republican Yea
III, Roger William Wilder Republican Yea
III, Vincent E. Cox Republican Yea
IV, Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu Republican Yea
Jack McFarland Republican Yea
Jacob Braud Republican Yea
Jacob Jules Landry Republican Yea
Jason Brian DeWitt Republican Yea
Jeffrey "Jeff" Fons Wiley Republican Yea
Jeremy LaCombe Republican Yea
Jerome Zeringue Republican Yea
Jessica Domangue Republican Yea
John E. Wyble Republican Yea
Joseph A. Orgeron Republican Yea
Josh Carlson Republican Yea
Jr., Dennis Bamburg Republican Yea
Jr., John R. Illg Republican Yea
Jr., Michael Robert Bayham Republican Yea
Kathy Edmonston Republican Yea
Kellee Hennessy Dickerson Republican Yea
Kim Carver Republican Yea
Kimberly Landry Coates Republican Yea
Larry A. Bagley Republican Yea
Lauren Ventrella Republican Yea
Laurie Schlegel Republican Yea
Les Farnum Republican Not Voting
Mark Wright Republican Yea
Michael "Gabe" Firment Republican Yea
Michael Charles Echols Republican Yea
Michael Melerine Republican Not Voting
Mike Johnson Republican Yea
Neil Riser Republican Yea
Nicholas Muscarello Republican Nay
Paul Sawyer Republican Yea
Phillip Eric Tarver Republican Not Voting
Polly Thomas Republican Yea
R. Dewith Carrier Republican Not Voting
Raymond J. Crews Republican Not Voting
Reese "Skip" Broussard Republican Yea
Rhonda Gaye Butler Republican Yea
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Yea
Rodney Schamerhorn Republican Yea
Ryan Bourriaque Republican Yea
Shane Mack Republican Yea
Sr., Peter F. Egan Republican Yea
Stephanie H. Berault Republican Yea
Stephanie Hilferty Republican Yea
Timothy P. Kerner Republican Yea
Tony Bacala Republican Yea
Troy Jude Hebert Republican Yea
Wayne McMahen Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 851?
HB 851 is sponsored by Stewart Jr. Cathey (Republican), Jerome Zeringue (Republican), Laurie Schlegel (Republican), Rodney Schamerhorn (Republican), Paul Sawyer (Republican), Neil Riser (Republican), Joseph A. Orgeron (Republican), Pat Moore (Democrat), Shane Mack (Republican), Mandie Landry (Democrat), Jacob Jules Landry (Republican), Dana Henry (Democrat), Jr., Kyle M. Green (Democrat), Brett F. Geymann (Republican), Barbara Reich Freiberg (Republican), Jessica Domangue (Republican), Jason Brian DeWitt (Republican), Daryl Andrew Deshotel (Republican), III, Vincent E. Cox (Republican), Kimberly Landry Coates (Republican), Jr., Michael Robert Bayham (Republican), Jr., John R. Illg (Republican), C. Travis Johnson (Democrat), and Kellee Hennessy Dickerson (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 851?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 27, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 851?
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