TAMPA, Fla. — We’ve seen them pretty often these days. Balloon releases have become a popular part of celebrations and sometimes somber or special occasions.
But several lawmakers are now getting behind a bill that would make releasing those balloons illegal.
Currently, it’s okay under Florida law to release up to ten balloons within a 24-hour period, but if Senate Bill 602 passes, that number would be zero.
The issue, say those behind the proposal, is that what goes up must come down. And in Florida, that usually means in water - where marine life like turtles mistake the balloons for food.
Balloons also find their way into open areas where other animals get tangled-up in or choke on them.
It’s estimated to be thousands of balloons each year.
Heather Alford owns Flourish in South Tampa. Her business centers on balloons, but Alford says she supports the bill.
She says she has told clients who are thinking about a balloon release to consider alternatives.
“They’re surprised,” Alford said. “Or they just say I didn’t think about that. And then they say 'OK, good to know, we will figure something else out.'"
An original version of the bill would have allowed for biodegradable balloons to be released, but that was edited out of the current version.
A similar law was proposed last year, but that bill never made it to the governor's desk.
If passed, violations would be $150 per offense with the law taking effect July 1.