Letting go of a balloon could soon become illegal in Florida

Intentionally letting go of a balloon could soon become illegal in Florida under new littering laws.

Florida House Bill 321, which was filed in November 2023, could make it illegal to intentionally release or organise a release of balloons.

Under the law,doing so would be considered a form of “littering” and “dumping”, though the offence would still be noncriminal.

Offenders will be fined $150, with $50 of that fee deposited in the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund for its grant program. Children aged six and under would be exempt from the law.

Balloons that are released on behalf of a governmental agency for scientific or meteorological purposes will also be permitted, as will balloons released indoors and hot air balloons recovered after launching.

However, the bill will also remove the previous exemption for balloons that have been determined by FWC rules to be biodegradable or photodegradable.

The legislation is now on its way to Florida governor Ron DeSantis after it passed in the state’s House of Representatives. If he signs it, the bill could come into effect on 1 July.

The bill is now on its way to Ron DeSantis

The new law is part of an effort to protect animals such as turtles, dolphins, birds and other wildlife from the danger of eating or becoming entangled in fallen balloons.

Arizona, California, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia have also placed restrictions on the outdoor release of balloons as part of the same effort.

Balloons, especially helium-filled balloons that can float long distances, have long been known to maim and kill wildlife, with many animals mistaking them for food, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

When an animal ingests a balloon, it is unable to