State Representative Rush Bricken of Coffee County is backing a bill that could extend fireworks sales significantly this year, expanding the time they can be sold around the Fourth of July and New Year’s and adding Memorial and Labor Day to the time they can be purchased.

House Bill 1926, sponsored by Bricken, has been placed on the regular calendar for both the state House and Senate for considerati on after it passed numerous committees.

“As introduced, (the bill) expands the length of the existing Independence Day and New Year sales periods and adds new Memorial Day and Labor Day sales periods for seasonal retailers of fireworks for the 2026 retail period; increases the seasonal retailer permit fee from $100 to $150 for calendar year 2026,” the caption to the bill states.

The nuts and bolts of the bill read that the law would have a shelf life that will end early next year if passed. The reasoning is that this is the 250th celebration, and the extension would be a one-year deal. Among the changes from the present law would be the sales of fireworks from May 20 through May 30 for Memorial Day, expanding the sale for the 250th celebration to June 10 through July 10; adding Labor Day sales September 1 through September 10, and expanding New Year sales December 10 through January 3.

The bill offers the state fire marshal a say-so when it comes to when fireworks can be fired, given weather conditions.

While the bill is on the verge of making it to a vote by the General Assembly, the enforcement of when fireworks can be legally fired would still be at the discretion of city ordinances. Areas outside city limits would be a gray area, although fully under the guidance of the fire marshal’s office.