Intentional balloon releases are now banned in Florida following the passage of House Bill 321, which classifies released balloons as litter.
The bill went into effect July 1 and was led by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-St. Petersburg, and Rep. Linda Chaney, R-St. Pete Beach.
"This issue is important for my district," Chaney in a news release. "Having a mixed-use district, with most of the communities being on the water but also seeing extensive agricultural land in Pinellas Park, our area knows all too much about the devastation that the intentional release of balloons can cause.
"In our district, environmental protection is a top concern and I am privileged to carry bills that will help us preserve our natural landscapes and wildlife ecosystems," she added.
The bill revises current penalties for intentionally releasing balloons by specifying that the person is littering and is subject to Florida Litter Law penalties. Penalties can range from noncriminal infractions to third-degree felonies depending on the amount of litter.
The bill specifies that a person who is 6 years old or younger that intentionally released a balloon is not subject to penalties.
Florida, California, Connecticut and Tennessee are among the first states to ban mass launches of balloons.
There are exemptions of balloons that are determined by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to be biodegradable or photodegradable.
In July 2022, nonprofit environmental group Oceana released a Florida statewide poll showing 87 percent of Florida voters support local, state and national policies to reduce single-use plastics. In the same poll, 91 percent of Florida voters were concerned about plastic pollution and its impact on the environment.