Florida has new laws taking effect today, including ban on balloon releases

July 1 marks the start of a new fiscal year in Florida, and with it, the onset of new laws recently signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Why it matters: The laws will impact what Floridians can and can't do, including a ban on balloon releases , harsher penalties for street racing and new rules governing bear encounters .

State of play: Nearly 180 new laws — and a $116.5 billion budget for 2024-25 — went into effect today.

• Among them was one of the more controversial bills impacting South Florida: HB 433, which prohibits local governments from requiring heat protections for outdoor workers.
• The law, which takes effect during what's expected to be a hotter-than-average summer , effectively killed a local effort to require employers to provide water, rest and shade on hot days.

Other notable new laws include:

• HB 601: Limits civilian oversight panels from looking into complaints against the behavior of law enforcement officers, according to the Miami Herald .
• HB 49: Allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work more than 30 hours in a week if they have parental permission, per NBC Miami .
• HB 931: School districts can now allow religious counselors into schools. Miami-Dade was one of the first districts to consider a formal proposal.
• HB 7063: Increased the legal age to strip for money to 21 years old.
• HB 159: Allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense medicine that can prevent an HIV infection after exposure if taken within 72 hours, per the Herald.