Kansas committee hears bill to expand fireworks sales window, require retailer registration and bar online sales

Senate Commerce committee members heard testimony on Senate Bill 199, which would amend the Kansas Fireworks Act to add narrower distributor categories, extend the retail fireworks season, require annual registration for both seasonal and permanent retailers, and prohibit retail sales of consumer fireworks over the Internet or by mail.

The bill’s sponsor and department staff told the committee the measure replaces the single, broad definition of “distributor” with three specific distributor categories—display fireworks distributor, article pyrotechnic distributor and unlimited distributor—adds a new permanent-retailer definition for year‑round sellers at a fixed location, and revises “fireworks season” from the current June 27–July 5 period to June 20–July 7. The bill would also make it unlawful to possess, purchase, sell or offer for sale fireworks labeled for professional use only without a current license issued by the state fire marshal. (Testimony described the measure as addressing who may sell and when, not the discharge or use of fireworks.)

Proponents said extending the period and creating a permanent-retailer category would ease severe seasonality on…