The legislature’s Public Safety and Security Committee advanced two bills on Thursday that would expand what fireworks are legal for sale and use in Connecticut, though at least one possibly faces an uphill battle making it through the full legislature.
Senate Bill 140 would legalize what the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives defines as a consumer firework: a small firework device designed to produce visible effects by combustion.
Committee members also approved House Bill 5177, a measure that would broaden the definition of “nonaerial and nonexplosive” fireworks to include flitter sparklers, ground spinners and novelty items such as party poppers, toy smoke devices and throw snappers. Under current law, sparklers and fountains are the only legal fireworks in Connecticut.
Both bills would need to pass through the House and Senate before reaching Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk for his signature and becoming law.
The novelty legislation seemed to interest lawmakers during a public hearing last week, but it was essentially seen as a minor change to what fireworks are already allowed in Connecticut.
The more ambitious of the two bills, the consumer fireworks bill, was mostly supported by Rep. Kurt Vail, R-Stafford, who spent time prior to the final vote tally on Thursday speaking with his legislative colleagues to garner support to send it out of committee.
The official vote tally was not available as of Thursday evening, but Vail was notified that it advanced on a bipartisan vote of 15-9.
“It’s more of a liberty thing. I know there’s a lot of people in my district that use fireworks. They’re going out of state and getting them, bringing them back to the state,” he said in an interview. “Granted, there’s a level of danger. I certainly recognize that and understand people’s concerns about legalizing it, but we’re doing it here already.”
The lawmakers who voted against the legislation cited safety as their main concern.
“I do believe that expanding the type of fireworks to the level that’s in this legislation will cause more potential risk for individuals who use the items but also for others in the community, and also will increase the risk of fire,” said Rep. Gary Turco, D-Newington. “By not having a limitation of when they’re going to be used, we know it won’t just be July 4, because we know right now, people are illegally using them at all times of the year.”
Before the vote, Vail said he would like to model Connecticut’s legislation after New Hampshire’s, which limits the sale and use of fireworks to people ages 21 and older, requires that people stay on their property while using the devices, and mandates residents to follow their local ordinances and restrictions.
The Senate bill also sets the age limit for sale and use of consumer fireworks to 21 and older. The age limit wasn’t enough to garner the support of law enforcement and fire officials, however.
“From a public safety perspective, the inherent dangers of using fireworks are great, and their use should not be left to the general public,” said Ronnell Higgins, commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in written testimony. “Fireworks use should be left to the professionals who are trained, licensed and regulated to use them safely so as to not endanger the lives and property of the citizens of Connecticut.”
Since 2016, there have been approximately 150 structure fires with two related fatalities and an average of 39 reported injuries attributed to the use of consumer fireworks in the state, according to written testimony from fire officials.
“The sale and use of these items cannot be supported by Connecticut Fire, Police and Emergency Service Organizations, as the use of consumer-grade fireworks and novelty items pose an inherent danger and an increase in injuries to the citizens who we protect every day,” said Roger Nelson, vice president of the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association.
Vail acknowledged that the proposal could face difficulty making it through the rest of the legislature, but he sees its passing out of committee as “a step in the right direction.”