Balloon release ban floated in Arizona

(The Center Square) – An Arizona lawmaker introduced legislation for the upcoming session intended to regulate the release of balloons.

State Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, is putting forth the bill to make it a “petty offense” to take part in releasing “ten or more balloons inflated with gas” on purpose as an adult.

However, there are a few exceptions to the proposed Senate Bill 1004.

First, “balloons that are released by a person on behalf of a governmental agency or pursuant to a governmental contract for scientific or meteorological purposes” are allowable. In addition, “hot air balloons that are recovered after launching” or balloons let go inside of a building are acceptable.

According to CBS News, multiple states have similar regulations over the potential environmental hazard that letting go of too many balloons at once into the atmosphere can cause, including California.

Earlier this year, Florida passed a similar law that would outlaw letting go of balloons altogether. Critics of balloon releases have cited plastic falling apart posing a risk to animals and the climate. 

The legislative session starts on Jan. 13.