Balloons; prohibits release into atmosphere. (SB1107)

Introduced By

Sen. Jeff McWaters (R-Virginia Beach)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Release of balloons. Prohibits any person, with certain exceptions, from intentionally releasing or causing to be released any balloon into the atmosphere that (i) is inflated with a substance lighter than air and (ii) requires more than five minutes' contact with air or water to degrade. Currently, a person is prohibited from releasing 50 or more nonbiodegradable or nonphotodegradable balloons within a one-hour period. The bill retains the current civil penalty of $5 per prohibited balloon released; however, the proceeds generated from the civil penalty are set to be deposited into the Litter Control and Recycling Fund administered by the Department of Environmental Quality; whereas, the proceeds are currently deposited into the Lifetime Hunting and Fishing Endowment Fund. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/13/2015Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/15 15103105D
01/13/2015Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
01/19/2015Impact statement from DPB (SB1107)
01/28/2015Impact statement from DPB (SB1107)
01/29/2015Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with amendments (9-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
01/29/2015Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with amendments (8-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)
02/02/2015Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/03/2015Passed by for the day
02/04/2015Read second time
02/04/2015Reading of amendments waived
02/04/2015Committee amendments agreed to
02/04/2015Passed by for the day
02/05/2015Read second time
02/05/2015Engrossed by Senate as amended SB1107E
02/05/2015Printed as engrossed 15103105D-E
02/06/2015Read third time and defeated by Senate (16-Y 21-N 1-A) (see vote tally)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 6 clips in all, totaling 5 minutes.

Comments

Waldo Jaquith writes:

I don't understand how a balloon would degrade in the air after 5 minutes. How would such balloons be manufactured—in special halon-filled factories? They'd need to be packaged in air-tight bags, and you'd need to inflate them immediately before using them. I'm dubious that this is a thing that exists.

Michael Minor writes:

I support this bill to ban the intentional release of any balloon. It causes undo harm to wildlife (which are threatened on every level) and our waterways. We MUSTstart protecting our environment and our only home planet...

Thank you,
Michael Minor

Harvey and Donna Bryant writes:

We support Sen McWaters bill to protect our aquatic wildlife. Industry and human creativity will come up with a meaningful and colorful alternative to outdoor release of balloons.