House narrows consumer fireworks windows, standardizes hours and signage

Representative Dunnigan presented House Bill 33 to narrow consumer fireworks discharge dates to limited holiday windows (three days before and after July 4 and July 24, plus New Year's and Chinese New Year's Eve), expand vendor sales dates (June 23–July 27), and standardize allowable discharge hours for consumer fireworks to 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (with an exception on New Year's and Chinese New Year's Eve until 1 a.m.). He said the changes respond to public-safety concerns and requests from local fire marshals to create uniform expectations and improve enforcement.

Members asked for clarification on how the bill affects formal municipal displays and on enforcement and signage. Dunnigan said the bill does not affect professional community pyrotechnic displays (those remain under separate rules) and that the fire prevention board will provide standardized signage by rule (not statute). On New Year's Eve hours, the sponsor clarified the exemption allowing displays until 1 a.m. "On New Year's Eve and Chinese New Year's Eve, you can go till 1 AM," Dunnigan said.

The sponsor noted injury-prevention goals and economic considerations: permitted consumer fireworks categories remain, but classes of high-risk devices (skyrockets, firecrackers, roman candles, certain single-shot mortars) remain prohibited year-round. He also said the retail sales window was widened to give local fire inspectors time to inspect stands before peak sales. The House passed HB 33, 60 yes to 10 no, and transmitted the bill to the Senate for consideration.