Bill Text: VA HB2159 | 2021 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Balloons; release of nonbiodegradable balloons outdoors prohibited, civil penalty.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-02-05 - Continued to 2021 Sp. Sess. 1 in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 0-N) [HB2159 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-HB2159-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §29.1-556.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§29.1-556.1. Release of certain balloons prohibited; civil penalty; community service.
A. It shall be is unlawful for any individual 13 years of age or older or other
person to knowingly
intentionally release,
discard, or cause to be released
into the atmosphere within a one-hour period fifty or more balloons which are
(i) or
discarded outdoors any balloon made of a nonbiodegradable or nonphotodegradable material or
any material which that
requires more than five minutes' contact with air or water to degrade and (ii) inflated with a substance which is
lighter than air. Any person
who violates convicted of a
violation of this section shall
be is
liable for a civil penalty not to exceed
five dollars of $25 per balloon released
above the allowable limit or
discarded, which shall be paid into the
Lifetime Hunting and Fishing Endowment
Game Protection Fund established pursuant to § 29.1-101.1 29.1-101.
B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any (i)
balloons balloon
released (a) by or on behalf of any
agency of the Commonwealth,
or the United States or (b)
pursuant to a contract with the Commonwealth, the
United States, or any
other state, territory,
or government for scientific or meteorological purposes or (ii) hot air balloons
balloon that are is recovered after launch.
