LANSING — Today, state Rep. John Chirkun (D-Roseville) celebrated the passage of a bipartisan package that would make changes to Michigan’s Fireworks Safety Act. Included in the package is Chirkun’s House Bill 5940, which passed with an overwhelming 96-13 vote. The bill allows cities and townships with a population over 100,000, or any local government in a county with a population over 750,000, the ability to regulate the number of temporary structures from which fireworks are sold and the distance between them.

“While these bills are not perfect, they do make some much needed changes to current law in an effort to address some of the many concerns I have heard from my constituents during my time in the House,” Chirkun said. “I would like to thank my colleague, Rep. Jim Lilly, for his willingness to work with me on this issue in a bipartisan manner. I am hopeful this legislation will get a chance to be considered in the Senate and signed into law before the year’s end and help bring some much needed relief to residents.”

The package would also: make changes to dates and times for permitted firework use, excluding those that are under control of local ordinances; increase fines for violations of local firework ordinances; and modify the definition of fireworks to include homemade fireworks. The package now moves to the Senate.

 

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