Brian Baldridge, State Representative, 90th House District — Sponsor Testimony, House Commerce and Labor Committee

Summary

Sponsor testimony on HB 172 from Brian Baldridge, State Representative, 90th House District, to Chairman Stein, Vice Chair Johnson, Ranking Member LePore-Hagan and the House Commerce and Labor Committee. The testimony says consumer grade 1.4G fireworks are currently illegal to use in Ohio and that this law is largely ignored. It reports fireworks related injuries of approximately 11,100 incidents in 1976 and approximately 12,900 in 2017. The bill funds firefighter-training programs through a fee on the retail sale of consumer fireworks and establishes the Ohio Fire Code Rule Recommendation Committee, which would make recommendations to the State Fire Marshal.

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Full text

                                    Brian Baldridge
                        State Representative, 90th House District

Chairman Stein, Vice Chair Johnson, Ranking Member LePore-Hagan, and members of the
House Commerce and Labor Committee, thank you for giving us the opportunity to provide
sponsor testimony for HB 172.

Ohio’s fireworks laws have gone largely unchanged for decades, and while consumer grade 1.4G
fireworks are currently illegal to use in Ohio, we find every year that this law is largely ignored.
By working with the State Fire Marshal’s office, and local officials, we can make our state safer
while allowing our citizens to express their national pride and joy in a safe and responsible
manner through this legislation.

Because safety should rightfully be a consideration, it is important to note that as states across
the country have loosened their firework laws, there has not be a statistically significant increase
in firework related injuries.

In 1976 the number of fireworks related injuries was approximately 11,100 incidents, and in
2017, that number has only risen to approximately 12,900. The use of illegal “homemade”
fireworks and improper use of fireworks has historically been a consistent factor in firework
related injuries, and a problem this bill will hope to resolve.

The bill also funds firefighter-training programs by imposing a fee on the retail sale of consumer
fireworks. Those fees are credited to firefighter training programs and to the State Fire
Marshal’s regulation and enforcement of the fireworks industry.

In addition, this bill establishes the Ohio Fire Code Rule Recommendation Committee. This
committee will review Ohio’s Fireworks law and make recommendations to the State Fire
Marshal. The committee is composed of representatives of the fireworks industry, fire officials
and health officials.

To echo my colleague, this legislation is long overdue. House Bill 172 will allow our citizens to
enjoy Fourth of July celebrations safely and legally with friends, family and neighbors as 49
other states in this country do. I respectfully ask for your support and am happy to answer any
questions.


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