Legalizing fireworks expected to get legislative consideration

DES MOINES – Chairman Sen. Jeff Danielson told members of his Senate State Government Committee on Tuesday they can expect fireworks this session.

The Waterloo Democrat said legislation is being crafted again this year to legalize the sale, possession and use of fireworks in Iowa. He said he has ordered a study bill with features similar to the provisions of a bill that stalled in the Senate last year.

Under current Iowa law, 'snakes” and 'sparklers” are the only fireworks that are legal to possess or light. Violation of the law is a simple misdemeanor.

Sen. Jake Chapman, R-Adel, who served as floor manager on a fireworks last session, said he expects companion bills to surface in the Iowa Senate and Iowa House that would allow adult Iowans to purchase, possess and set off fireworks – joining most other states where fireworks are legal.

'We had some good debate last year. Unfortunately we just ran out of time,” Chapman said Tuesday. 'I think this year with us starting it off early, having the discussion, having the support of the public, I think we've got a real opportunity to pass it this year.”

Chapman said the bill would include safety measures and promote education, while banning access to minors.

'I believe we have the opportunity,” Danielson said. ' There was a lot of work done from the introduction of the bill last year to this point forward. In my years here, you can't predict an outcome, nobody can, but I feel very good that there is more openness to passing it this year.”

Last year Gov. Terry Branstad reserved judgment on the effort to legalize fireworks in Iowa, but Danielson said proponents believe 'there's some openness there” from the governor's office. 'I wouldn't go through the work if I didn't think it was an opportunity to actually get to the finish line,” Danielson said.

'This is the year. I think we've got a real opportunity,” added Chapman, who said Iowa currently has a situation that basically is unregulated because the current law on the books is difficult to enforce.