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Minutes for SB199 - Committee on Commerce
Short Title
Defining the fireworks sales season for seasonal retailers of consumer fireworks and providing for year-round sales by permanent retailers of consumer fireworks, requiring registration with the state fire marshal by such seasonal and permanent retailers, prohibiting internet sales of consumer fireworks, creating the license categories of distributor of display fireworks, distributor of pyrotechnic articles and unlimited distributor and limiting lawful sale of fireworks that are labeled "For Professional Use Only" to certain license categories.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 11, 2025
Chair Alley opened the hearing on SB 199.
Staff provided an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1)
Jake Marietta, Jake's Fireworks Pittsburg, Kansas spoke in favor of the bill. (Attachment 2) The bill will allow Jake's to continue to work with the non-profits from the State of Kansas to raise funds for their annual operating budget.
Chris Bloomer, Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School, Wichita, Kansas, appeared in favor of the bill. (Attachment 3) The income is used for building improvements, sports equipment, instrument, and daily budgeted operating expenses.
Rhonda Dewitt and Tiffani Bradley, Uniontown Class of 2026 Sponsors, provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 4)
Julie Durand, Ozawkie, Kansas, provided written opposition testimony. (Attachment 5)
Neutral
State Fire Marshall Mark Engholm, provided neutral testimony on the bill. (Attachment 6) The primary change is the requirement that fireworks retailers register annually with SFM office, under current law there is no contact except during inspections. SFM's office has one new full time and a seasonal staff member to assist with the timely processing of retail registrations each spring. Logically concluding that making firework more readily available throughout the year will result in increased firework sales and use of fireworks, which translates to more firework related fire losses and fireworks related injuries in our state.
Chair Alley closed the hearing on SB 199.
