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Fireworks fee hike fails; House later reconsiders and circles bill for fiscal review
Summary
The House initially rejected a plan to raise the fireworks display license fee from $10 to $40 (34-37), then later granted a motion to reconsider and 'circle' House Bill 300 so sponsors can resolve fiscal-note questions raised by the State Fire Marshal.
Representative Rhonda Rudd Menlove introduced House Bill 300 to raise the fireworks display license fee from $10 to $40 and make several technical changes to licensing language. Supporters said the increase would help cover licensing and processing costs; opponents pressed for detailed program costs and objected to using fees to fund the general fund rather than program administration.
During initial floor action the bill failed in final passage (34 yes, 37 no, 4 absent). Later in the session Representative Hansen—having voted on the prevailing side—moved to reconsider the bill after further consultation with the State Fire Marshal. Menlove reported she had contacted the State Fire Marshal, who clarified that the licensing program substantially underrecovers its administrative costs and that the fiscal note required additional review. Members then voted to reconsider and to 'circle' HB 300 to allow staff time to resolve fiscal-note and funding issues.
Representative Menlove said the fee supports testing, certification and processing that ensures licensed fireworks providers meet safety standards; she told the House she had been informed that current fees ‘‘do not even come close to covering the cost’’ of administering the licensing function. The motion to circle was agreed so the sponsor can prepare additional fiscal information and return the bill for future consideration.
