We’ve all been hearing whispers about the balloon release ban for a while now, right? Starting August 1st, outdoor balloon releases are illegal across the state of Louisiana. Under the new state law (Act 196 / House Bill 851), outdoor balloon releases are now officially classified as state littering. Beyond the environmental impact, stray mylar balloons frequently drift into power lines, causing major power outages across local neighborhoods. Meaningful (and Legal) Ways to CelebrateUnderstandably, some Louisianans are wondering how to adapt long-standing memorial traditions without balloon releases.