Bill to limit use of fireworks passes Ga. General Assembly

A bill setting new limits on when and where fireworks can be used passed the Georgia General Assembly Thursday, the last day of the legislative session.

House Bill 727, sponsored by Rep. Paul Battles, R-Cartersville, would reduce by an hour when fireworks can be used on Jan. 1 and over the Fourth of July. Instead of a 2 a.m. cut-off, the bill would make it illegal to use fireworks after 1 a.m. The rest of the year Georgians would have to stop firing off the combustibles after 9 p.m., instead of midnight, as current law allows, but local governments could allow them later.

Battles’ bill would also make it illegal to use fireworks within the right of way of any road, street, highway or railroad, or within 100 yeards of a hospital, nursing home, electric substation or prison.