A bill that would forbid balloon launches across the state was signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday.
The “Release of Balloons” (HB 321) measure, one of the final 25 unfinished business items from the 2024 legislative session, was forwarded to DeSantis on June 17.
As was previously reported, the most recent bill would classify the deliberate release of all balloons inflated with a gas lighter than air as littering. Currently, the law permits the discharge of nine or fewer balloons within a 24-hour period.
Individuals who break the law will be fined $150. Of that, $50 will be contributed to the solid waste management trust fund of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Fines for balloons weighing more than 15 pounds are as high as $1,000.
The measure states that children under the age of six are exempt from the penalty.
The nonprofit ocean conservation group Oceana claimed to have pushed for the legislation. The legislation’s passing was praised by a legislator as a “great day for Florida’s coastlines and ocean wildlife.” The group argues that balloons and the plastic ribbons attached to them are easily ingested by sea turtles and seabirds, which can have disastrous consequences.
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According to a statement from Oceana’s Florida Field Campaigns Manager Hunter Miller, “Florida’s new law will help save ocean animals from these preventable deaths. While releasing balloons is sometimes used for celebrations, Floridians can opt for greener choices like bubbles, kites, planting trees, or making memorial gardens.”
Why is the bill necessary?
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, balloons can harm or even kill birds, turtles, and other wildlife because they mistake them for food. Animals can also be strangled by balloon strings that coil over their necks.
According to Balloons Blow, a charity that campaigns against balloon releases, Florida is now one of ten states with laws restricting or banning balloon releases.
During memorial ceremonies or life celebrations, balloon releases are a common gesture to honor the memory of a deceased person.
For this reason, some retailers, such as Walmart, stock biodegradable balloons; however, Florida law prohibits the use of such balloons.
A staff examination reveals that, in actuality, none of the balloons satisfy the biodegradability standards set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.Hot air balloons recovered after flight, weather, and research would all still be permitted.
The first day of the bill’s implementation is July 1.
