Gov. Mike DeWine has signed off on a modified fireworks law that will allow Ohioans to launch consumer-grade fireworks beginning this July.
House Bill 172 would allow adults to use consumer grade fireworks on private property during New Year’s Eve and Day, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends and July 3, 4, 5 as well as the three-day weekends before and after July 4. Fireworks would also be permitted on private property for the Chinese New Year and Diwali.
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“Amended Substitute House Bill 172 is a better bill than Senate Bill 113, which was the original fireworks bill that I vetoed. Because it was clear to me that the legislature would have overridden my veto, making Senate Bill 113 the law, I worked with the General Assembly to arrive at a compromise that included changes I wanted to see in the legislation,” DeWine said Monday. “I appreciate the General Assembly addressing concerns I enumerated in the veto of Senate Bill 113 and incorporating most of them into House Bill 172.”
According to the bill, the state fire marshal’s office will have to adopt rules regulating the time, manner and location of consumer fireworks use.
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A county, township or city could create their own laws to restrict the dates and times a person may discharge, ignite, or explode fireworks. Cities, townships and counties also could decide to ban the discharge, ignition, or explosion of fireworks purchased, according to the law.
The bill also imposes a four percent fee on the retail sale of consumer-grade fireworks that will be used to fund firefighter training programs and State Fire Marshal’s regulation and enforcement of the fireworks industry.
The Ohio Senate had voted 26-5 in support of the bill and the Ohio House voted 72-24 in support.