Latest news with #SenateFile303
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
America turns 250 on July 4, 2026. One state looks to loosen fireworks law for celebration
America turns 250 on July 4, 2026. One state looks to loosen fireworks law for celebration In 2023, President Donald Trump proposed a 250th anniversary celebration to be held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, starting Memorial Day weekend 2025. The state appears to be readying itself. Show Caption Hide Caption Fireworks to return to Mount Rushmore for nation's 250th birthday in 2026 Fireworks will be making a comeback at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota in 2026 for a Fourth of July celebration. Straight Arrow News Iowa lawmakers have passed a bill that would prohibit the regulation of firework displays during the Fourth of July, paving the way for a yearlong celebration lauded by President Donald Trump ahead of the United States' 250th birthday next summer. Iowa's Senate File 303 would prohibit local governments from regulating the use of fireworks by Iowa residents on July 3 and 4. After passing in the House, the bill is heading to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk. The bill comes two years after Trump proposed the idea of a Great American State Fair to be held in Iowa in July 2026 for the country's anniversary milestone. "Current law allows a patchwork of ordinances that are a trap for the unwary patriotic American in Iowa who simply wants to celebrate Independence Day the way it was intended by our founding fathers and the way it has been for centuries," Republican Iowa Rep. Bill Gustoff said on the House floor. "In too many communities in Iowa, they can't do that." As the bill's fate lies in Reynolds' hands, here's what to know about the legislation, Trump's proposed Great American Fair and Iowa's plans for 2026 Fourth of July. If passed, what would Iowa's firework bill do? If signed into law by Reynolds, Senate File 303 would prohibit city and county governments from regulating or prohibiting Iowans' use of consumer fireworks on July 3 and 4, and on Dec. 31, for New Year's Eve. In a 2024 social media post, Reynolds said the state of Iowa would "stand ready to host the Great American State Fair." The timing of her decision is unclear. Des Moines Register: Iowans could shoot off fireworks on 4th of July, New Year's Eve under bill sent to Reynolds What is the Great American Fair? In 2023, Trump proposed the idea of hosting the Great American Fair. To be held from Memorial Day 2025 to July 4, 2026, Trump said the event would be headquartered at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Though plans for such an event have yet to be shared, and Trump's administration declined commenting when contacted by USA TODAY on May 13, Trump did sign an executive order in January that created Task Force 250. As outlined by the order and headed by Trump, Task Force 250 is responsible for planning and executing "an extraordinary celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence" on July 4, 2026. The task force is also responsible for the creation of the National Garden of American Heroes, a sculpture garden first proposed by the president in 2020 that is scheduled to open in July 2026. "My hope is that the amazing people of Iowa will work with my administration to open up the legendary Iowa State Fairgrounds to host the Great American State Fair and welcome millions and millions of visitors from around the world to the heartland of America for this special one-time festival," Trump said in the 2023 video. Is the Great American Fair really happening? Despite Trump's executive order, plans for an official Great American Fair don't appear to be in place yet. "Although we are biased and believe the Iowa State Fair is the best, we have received no official requests or inquiries for the Great American Fair at this time," Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons told USA TODAY on May 13. However, the United States Semiquincentennial, also known as America250, is a nonprofit dedicated to the celebration of the 250th anniversary across the country. The America250 lists several events throughout the country on its website but does not mention any details about the Great American Fair. National Garden of American Heroes: NEH hiring artists for Trump's 250-statue garden plan. It just cut 1,000 other grants. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@ or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller. Sabine Martin covers politics for the Register. She can be reached by email at or by phone at (515) 284-8132. Follow her on X at @sabinefmartin.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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.
