Bill curbing local fireworks rules approved ahead of America's 250th anniversary
The Iowa House passed legislation restricting local governments from implementing more stringent fireworks regulations than in state law on July 3, 4 and Dec. 31. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
A bill passed by the House Monday limiting local government's ability to restrict fireworks use will help the state participate in President Donald Trump's plans for major celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the U.S.'s founding in 2026, Rep. Bill Gustoff, R-Des Moines, said.
The House passed Senate File 303 with a vote of 51-39, sending it to Gov. Kim Reynolds. The bill prohibits county boards of supervisors and city councils from prohibiting or limiting the use of fireworks on July 3, 4 and Dec. 31, outside of existing regulations in Iowa Code.
State law sets certain constraints on fireworks — which are legal to use from June 1 through July 8 and Dec. 10 through Jan. 3 of each year — that outlaws the sale of fireworks to minors and the use of 'display' fireworks by people or organizations outside of local approval, as well as sets certain time restrictions on fireworks.
If signed into law, it would remove ordinances or other regulations set by several Iowa localities that ban or restrict the use of fireworks, including Des Moines, Ames and Iowa City.
Gustoff, the bill's floor manager, said lifting these local restrictions for three days a year will allow 'the unwary, patriotic American in Iowa' to celebrate the nation's founding without running the risk of breaking local law. He said this will be especially important as the country prepares to celebrate the country's 250th anniversary. Trump has floated bringing these celebrations to the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
Trump has proposed a yearlong celebration that he said would begin at the Iowa State Fair for the 'Great American State Fair' scheduled from Memorial Day 2025 to July 4, 2026.
'Mr. President, we welcome that idea in Iowa, and we're ready, willing and able to host the party,' Gustoff said. 'Iowans would want to join their fellow citizens from around the nation to celebrate the semi-quincentennial birthday of the greatest nation in history, in the world. … We need to enable Iowans to be part of that celebration.'
That includes being allowed to set off fireworks without violating local regulations, Gustoff said. However, Democrats have repeatedly expressed concerns about limiting local government's ability to set rules on fireworks use, particularly when different communities may set these regulations to address public safety hazards.
'When I look at the list of who signed on as lobbyists, it's striking to me that anyone concerned with public safety — firefighters, the fire marshals, the fire chiefs — are all against it, because they know what the challenges are in an urban environment,' Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner said in March. 'And it should be — in my view, it also should also be a local government issue.'
Rep. Eric Gjerde, D-Cedar Rapids, introduced an amendment Monday that would prohibit 'consumer fireworks for personal use.' He said that in Cedar Rapids, which has a ban on fireworks within city limits, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department received 636 calls for service for fireworks between June 1 and July 8, 2024. These included some dumpster, grass and debris fires caused by fireworks, in addition to calls from people who think the sounds of fireworks are gunshots — calls that require multiple law enforcement officers to respond and investigate.
He also brought up issues people in Iowa communities have with fireworks, like veterans who suffer from PTSD having adverse responses to fireworks going off nearby.
'When we take away the local control of cities and counties to determine what works best for them and what works best for their individuals — to me, it's just easier to say, let's just get rid of consumer fireworks altogether and stick with the display fireworks by our cities and our counties,' Gjerde said. '… So I think that even though we all enjoy — I enjoy a good firework display — but I also think we need to be certain that's what's in the best interest for everybody.'
The amendment failed.
Gustoff said fireworks have been around for thousands of years, saying there's 'no denying that they have broad-based appeal, and they're here to stay.' The measure goes to Reynolds for final approval.
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