Politics
Politics

House shoots fireworks bill to Senate

By Aaron Gould Sheinin
March 9, 2015

Georgians would no longer have to cross state borders to purchase fireworks under legislation approved in the state House on Monday.

By a vote of 119-49, the House approved House Bill 110, sponsored by Rep. Jay Roberts, R-Ocilla. It lifts the state ban on the sale of bottle rockets and other so-called consumer fireworks. Every state that borders Georgia, save North Carolina, allows the sale of fireworks, Roberts said, who expects the bill to generate 1,000 to 1,500 new jobs.

Several Democrats, including Reps. Margaret Kaiser of Atlanta and Mary Margaret Oliver of Decatur, argued the bill will lead to children being injured or maimed. .

HB 110 would allow businesses and non-profits to pay a licensing fee and sell the popular explosives. The bill would also create a new excise tax of 5 percent on every sale, in addition to state and local sales taxes.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

About the Author

Aaron Gould Sheinin
More Stories

Keep Reading

John Love — a member of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO union — holds a sign with other PASS members at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's domestic terminal on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. PASS members at the Federal Aviation Administration working without pay or furloughed share pamphlets to call public attention to the impact of the government shutdown on aviation safety and the personal toll it is taking on their families. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Flight delays likely ‘only going to get worse,’ Transportation head says

The U.S. will stop flights if the air traffic controller shortage leads to safety concerns, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says in TV interviews.

Georgia State Election Board member raises money online for legal defense

A fundraiser has raised more than $30K for Georgia State Election Board member Janice Johnston's legal defense. Critics say it creates potential for conflicts of interest.

Georgia parks raise parking fees — and more price hikes could be on the way

Georgia will boost state park entrance fees in January, and an audit suggests more price hikes could be coming.

The Latest

The four candidates in this year’s Sandy Springs mayoral race are Andy Bauman (from left), Dontaye Carter, incumbent Rusty Paul and Jody Reichel. (Courtesy; AJC File)

Credit: AJC

LISTEN

Sandy Springs mayoral candidates lay out their visions for the city

Georgia State Election Board member raises money online for legal defense

EXCLUSIVE

Georgians in both parties prefer property tax relief to scrapping income tax

Featured

Helen Gilbert places flowers on her brother Eurie Martin’s grave at Camp Spring Baptist Church in Sandersville. Her brother died eight years ago. Three former Washington County deputies are accused of causing his death and are set to stand trial Monday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

A last request: He asked for water but ended up in a deadly arrest.

Three white former deputies in Central Georgia face a retrial on murder charges after shocking Black pedestrian Eurie Martin with a Taser in 2017.

How two obscure races became a referendum on Georgia Power bills

Georgia Power customers have seen bills rise. Now they get to vote for two members on the state regulatory commission for the first time since 2020.

Spelman College, CAU get $38 million donations from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

Since the 2019 announcement of her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Scott has made significant investments in HBCUs across the country.