OHIO – Senate Bill 113 was passed by the House and Senate more than a week ago to allow legal use of fireworks within a guideline for Ohioans, now the question is will Dewine Sign the bill before the 4th?
“We’ve created folks who are breaking the laws because we can purchase fireworks in our great state, but we can’t set them off,” said State Rep. Brian Baldridge.
According to the legislation it would remove the stipulation that all legally purchased fireworks in Ohio, “must be taken out of Ohio within 48 hours of purchase and can’t be set off in the state.”
Arguments on the floor said that most Ohioans don’t abide by the rules anyways and police and fire are intubated with calls during the holidays.
The legislation suggests a %04 fee on all firework purchases to pay for firefighter training programs and create an Ohio Fire Code Rule Committee. Fireworks would only be legal to set off in the state under guidelines such as New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day weekend, Juneteenth, July 3, 4, and 5. Also on weekends after Labor day and Dewali.
Pushback on the bill was that people who were inexperienced could face life-altering or even life ending situations.
Currently use of fireworks in Ohio is only by licensed Individuals, Ohioans can purchase fireworks but must take them out of state to use.
