Introduced as the “dreaded balloon bill,” state Sen. Jeff McWaters’ proposal to ban the intentional release of balloons into the air drew out prolonged debate Friday as his fellow senators worried about the measure’s potential impact on the “birthday party clown industry” and the specter of children getting caught up in “undercover balloon sting operations.”
Currently, state code allows someone to release 50 balloons an hour. The bill would have outlawed any intentional release of balloons, and instituted a $5-per-balloon fine for offenders.…
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