Committee approves expanded fireworks sales and state registration for permanent retailers

The Senate Committee on Commerce advanced Senate Bill 199 after adopting amendments that narrowed registration requirements and clarified sale restrictions.

Senate Bill 199 would expand the sales season for seasonal consumer-fireworks retailers and allow year-round sales by permanent retailers, require registration with the State Fire Marshal for certain retailers, prohibit Internet or mail sales of consumer fireworks, and create distributor categories for display and pyrotechnic articles.

Following testimony and committee discussion, Senator Tyson offered an amendment that removed the registration requirement for small, seasonal fireworks sellers while retaining state registration for permanent, year-round retailers; the amendment also cleaned up language regarding online sales. The chair confirmed the registration in the bill is a state requirement and that local permitting and local restrictions on discharge remain unaffected.

A subsequent amendment and committee discussion clarified that local jurisdictions would still control permitting and the timing of fireworks discharges; registration would be for state oversight and inspection. After the amendment was moved and seconded, the committee adopted the amendment and then voted to report SB199 favorably as amended.

Committee members spoke in favor of allowing permanent retailers to operate year-round in locations that accommodate local permitting, and noted advantages such as flexibility to hold displays on alternate dates (for example, New Year's Eve or delayed Fourth of July events). The bill preserves local authority to permit or prohibit discharges and to set local permitting requirements.