A Tragedy That Changed Everything
Picture this: You’re at a birthday party on a sunny afternoon. Kids are laughing and playing in a bounce house in the backyard. Then the wind picks up. In seconds, that fun inflatable becomes a deadly missile, carrying children into power lines 10 feet off the ground.
This nightmare became reality for the Hammond family in Reno on July 14, 2019. Nine-year-old Lizzy Hammond died five days later from injuries she suffered when wind gusts launched the bounce house she was playing in straight into electrical wires. Lizzy died from blunt force trauma to the head when the bounce house she was playing in at a friend’s birthday party took flight in a gust of wind into power lines. Two other children were also injured in the accident.
What makes this even more heartbreaking? The wind speed was only 17 mph that day. Not a tornado. Not a hurricane. Just a typical Nevada breeze.
The Law That Lizzy’s Memory Built
Thanks to her parents’ tireless fight, Nevada has finally passed Assembly Bill 198, known as “Lizzy’s Law.” The new law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, also requires operating businesses to be licensed, have a $1 million liability insurance policy and keep a log book on an inflatable device’s use.
Here’s what the law requires:
Wind Speed Limits: AB 198 prohibits the use of bounce houses and other similar inflatables if there are wind speeds higher than 15 mph. This isn’t some random number.
“Our daughter actually died at 17 miles [per hour]. So it’ll bring you down to 15 to save even more lives,” Mitchell Hammond, Lizzy’s father, said.
Proper Anchoring: It also requires the use of stakes and weights to anchor the inflatable. Here’s something most parents don’t know: those metal stakes you see? They only keep the bounce house from sliding around. They don’t stop it from flying away. The stakes are not a safety mechanism against wind. So when an unexpected gust suddenly swept through the backyard, the bounce house (along with the stakes) lifted into the air.
Business Requirements: Companies must now get proper licenses and carry $1 million in insurance. They also have to keep detailed logs of when and how their equipment is used.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
This law hits all the right notes for folks who believe in limited government and personal responsibility. It doesn’t ban bounce houses or create some massive new bureaucracy. Instead, it sets basic safety standards and lets the market work.
Think about it like seatbelt laws or building codes. We don’t let contractors build houses without following safety rules. We shouldn’t let people rent out party equipment without basic protections either.
The law also protects business owners. It also establishes failure to follow regulations constitutes negligence. Now there are clear rules. Follow them, and you’re protected. Ignore them, and you’re liable.
The Opposition’s View
Some business owners worry about costs. They say requiring $1 million in insurance and keeping detailed logs will hurt small operators. Critics also argue that 15 mph winds are pretty common in Nevada, especially during spring and fall.
Others question whether government should regulate backyard birthday parties at all. They say parents should make these decisions, not lawmakers in Carson City.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Here’s the scary truth: The study found at least 479 people were injured and 28 died worldwide in more than 130 bounce house accidents due to weather events since 2000. And that’s probably an undercount.
Even worse, More than a third of the incidents occurred when the wind speeds nearby were between zero and 20 miles per hour. This isn’t about extreme weather. It’s about everyday conditions that most people think are safe.
Meanwhile, in the United States alone, more than 10,000 people annually visit the emergency room for bouncy-castle-related injuries. That’s like filling up a small arena every year with hurt kids.
Nevada Was Way Behind
Before this law, the State of Nevada does not have specific regulations pertaining to the inflatable rental business. We were one of 17 states with either no rules or weak oversight of bounce houses.
Compare that to Clark County, which already had tough rules in place. So Las Vegas families got protection, but kids in Reno, Carson City, and rural Nevada were left exposed. This bill would make them statewide.
What Comes Next
The law takes effect January 1, 2026. That gives businesses time to get their insurance and licensing in order. It also gives families time to learn what questions to ask when renting bounce houses.
Parents should ask rental companies:
- Do you have proper licensing and insurance?
- How do you anchor your equipment?
- What’s your policy on wind speeds?
- Can you show me your safety log?
What You Can Do
If you’re a parent, learn about wind safety before your next party. Download a weather app that shows wind speeds. When in doubt, deflate the bounce house or move the party inside.
If you run a bounce house business, get ahead of this law. Start tracking wind speeds now. Invest in proper anchoring equipment. Get the required insurance.
Contact your county commissioners and city councils. Ask them to adopt similar rules locally, so kids don’t have to wait until 2026 for protection.
Support the Lizzy Hammond Foundation, which educates families about bounce house safety. Their work has already saved lives.
The Bottom Line
Government works best when it protects people without crushing freedom. This law does exactly that. It gives families information to make smart choices. It creates a level playing field for honest businesses. And it honors the memory of a little girl whose death could have been prevented.
“For people to say it’s a freak accident, it really isn’t. The injuries are astronomical,” Lizzy’s mother, Wendy Hammond said.
She’s right. When the same type of accident happens over and over, it’s not a freak event. It’s a predictable tragedy that we finally have the tools to prevent.
Lizzy Hammond loved helping others. Even in death, she’s still saving lives.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
