Committee approves allowing tents for temporary fireworks sellers, adopts amendment to protect fundraisers

The Regulated Industries Committee approved a substitute bill to permit temporary fireworks sales from tents rather than requiring permanent or solid temporary structures, and adopted an amendment to clarify participation for nonprofit fundraisers.

The chair explained the substitute would let licensed distributors open up to 10 temporary locations and use tents for holiday and special‑event sales, subject to safety conditions such as a 1,000‑foot separation from fire hydrants unless a local fire chief grants an exception.

Chairman Dimnick (S15) offered a friendly amendment (AM640001) to ensure community groups, school teams and other fundraisers can operate under licensed distributors and not be excluded by nonprofit provisions; the amendment passed on voice vote. The committee then voted to pass the committee substitute.

Next steps: The bill with the amendment was reported out of committee; safety restrictions and local fire‑department approvals remain in the text.