The types of fireworks Nebraskans use -- and when they could use them -- could change under bills introduced in the Legislature this week.
Bills introduced by Sen. Kent Rogert of Tekamah, one on behalf of retailers and one for the state fire marshal, would eliminate most state testing requirements because fireworks are already tested by a U.S. laboratory and approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
That, in turn, would expand the supply available in Nebraska to include almost everything consumers can buy over state borders, except bottle rockets and night parachutes with a flame, said Marv Kohler, president of the Nebraska Fireworks Retail Association.
Permissible consumer fireworks also would not include those of more than one-inch or with more than 50 milligrams of explosives.
The bills (LB880 and LB881) also would ban gold and silver wire sparklers because they cause most of the fireworks injuries in young children. Sparklers with wooden or bamboo handles still would be allowed.
Locally, Nebraskans could buy bigger artillery shell packages and 500-gram multishot repeating aerial displays, he said.
LB880 would expand the allowable times fireworks could be bought in the state, opening a three-day period leading up to New Year's Day, and allowing a special permit for consumers for special occasions such as weddings or events.
All of the new sales and time period allowances would be subject, as they are now, to community and city regulation, Rogert said.
The state fire marshal's office could save $20,000 by not having to annually test new fireworks, Rogert said. A small amount of testing could still be conducted. And single items still could be banned by the fire marshal if shown to pose a severe threat of injury or harm to property.
The bills likely would be combined in some way in committee, he said.
Kohler said sales of fireworks in Nebraska is increasing about 10 percent a year.
Nationally, since 1976 the amount of fireworks has increased substantially but injuries resulting from them have declined, Kohler said.
