TODAY’S MODERATOR: New fireworks law in Ohio?

Ready for some fireworks? Our Statehouse reporter, Laura A. Bischoff, writes that a new bill could radically change the state's now-restrictive fireworks laws.

She writes: “Fireworks could be going off in your neighborhood 24 hours a day, seven days a week, if pending legislation becomes law. State representatives are backing a bill to dramatically change Ohioans’ access to consumer-grade fireworks, starting July 1, 2020.

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“House Bill 226 … would: allow Ohioans to buy, possess and use 1.4G fireworks on their own property or others’ property with permission; require sellers to give safety pamphlets to buyers; impose a 4 percent fee on top of sales taxes to fund firefighter training and fireworks regulation … and allow counties, cities and some townships to either ban fireworks or restrict the times and dates they may be used.

“If it passes in its current form, Ohio may have the most liberal law governing consumer use of fireworks, said Sherry Williams, executive director of Prevent Blindness Ohio, which opposes the bill.”

Boom. Email me at rrollins@coxohio.com.

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