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Committee backs measure to legalize additional consumer fireworks and raise inspection fees
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Summary
House Bill 956 would expand the range of consumer-grade fireworks retailers may sell and raise retail-stand inspection fees from $100 to $250 to cover inspection costs; the fire marshal said local ordinances prohibiting retail sales (e.g., Jefferson, Orleans) would remain in force. The committee reported the bill as amended.
House Bill 956, presented by State Fire Marshal Bridal Adams, would modernize fireworks retail rules by legalizing additional consumer-grade fireworks previously restricted, clarifying licensing and permitting, and raising retail-stand inspection fees from $100 to $250 to support enforcement.
Adams said the change would permit retailers to sell items considered consumer-grade while keeping local ordinances in place: "Jefferson Parish, Orleans Parish, and East Baton Rouge are all prohibited fireworks sales. So it would not change any of that." He also argued higher inspection fees are necessary because the office's current $100 fee has not kept pace with inspection costs and drive time.
Members asked whether legalizing more items would worsen neighborhood misuse; Representative Domingue and others urged attention to enforcement and penalties. The state fire marshal said the office inspects roughly 550 retail stands and destroys illegal or nonconsumer items it seizes. Representative Newell moved to report HB 956 with amendments; the committee reported the bill as amended.
Sponsors said the change aims to reduce cross-border purchases and keep taxes in-state by allowing the sale of items commonly bought across state lines.
The committee adopted technical amendment set 3,108 before reporting the bill favorably; legislators asked for continued monitoring of enforcement and seizure procedures.
