Angelina Cruz, Wisconsin State Representative for 82nd District | Facebook
Angelina Cruz, Wisconsin State Representative for 82nd District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "limiting the release of certain balloons into the atmosphere, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes a prohibition on the release of 10 or more balloons made of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (commonly known as Mylar) and filled with lighter-than-air gas into the atmosphere. Violators face a $500 forfeiture for noncompliance. However, exceptions are made for balloons released indoors with the property owner’s consent, released for scientific or meteorological purposes, or by a government agency or pursuant to a government contract for similar purposes. The bill grants rule-making authority to the relevant department to facilitate its implementation. Additionally, it adjusts existing statutes to incorporate this new regulation among other environmental violations subject to legal action.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (Democrat-8th District), Representative Lori A. Palmeri (Democrat-54th District), Representative Priscilla A. Prado (Democrat-9th District), and Representative Ann Roe (Democrat-44th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Chris Larson (Democrat-7th District), Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District), and Senator Jeff Smith (Democrat-31st District).
Angelina M. Cruz has co-authored or authored another 31 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
Cruz graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in 2003 with a BA.
Cruz, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 62nd Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Robert Wittke.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| AB352 | 07/08/2025 | Limiting the release of certain balloons into the atmosphere, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty |
| AB150 | 03/17/2025 | Requiring the legislature to convene an extraordinary session if an executive order of the president of the United States freezes federal aid to the state |
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