Committee advances bill to recategorize low-risk fireworks after contested testimony

House Bill 2223, carried by Speaker Marsh, was amended to recategorize consumer fireworks into three categories (sparklers/novelties, larger aerial devices and others), make sales permissive for localities that adopt an ordinance, and require retail permits from the state fire marshal for sellers of the newly defined products.

The bill drew split testimony. Chad Hunt, who identified himself as owner of Crazy K Fireworks in Dyersburg, warned the amendment could be a vehicle to "reclassify products that are illegal to be sold in markets where they sell snap and pops and champagne poppers now," and argued the change could enable out-of-state wholesalers to expand sales into counties previously restricted by population thresholds. By contrast, Charles Walker, director of compliance for American Promotional Events (doing business as TNT Fireworks), told the committee the measure merely aligns Tennessee with neighboring states and distinguishes lower-risk ground-based novelties from higher-risk aerial products: "This bill is doing nothing more than simply recategorizing, the consumer fireworks into 3 different categories... It helps distinguish low risk fireworks from high risk items."

After questions and brief discussion the committee voted to send the amended bill to the full committee (vote recorded: 5 ayes, 3 nays, 1 present-not-voting).