2018 House Bill 5941 / Public Act 636

Restrict fireworks ban authority to specified officials

Introduced in the House

May 8, 2018

Introduced by Rep. Jim Lilly (R-89)

To establish that only the governor has the authority to ban fireworks use in a county due to weather conditions (drought/dryness), not the state fire marshal or local fire departments.

Referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform

Nov. 28, 2018

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Dec. 4, 2018

Substitute offered by Rep. Jim Lilly (R-89)

To adopt a version of the bill that contains exceptions.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Dec. 6, 2018

Passed in the House 103 to 6 (details)

To establish that only the governor has the authority to ban fireworks use in a county due to weather conditions (drought/dryness), not the state fire marshal or local fire departments, unless the state Department of Natural Resources has elevated fire risk criteria to the "extreme risk" category.

Received in the Senate

Dec. 11, 2018

Referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform

Dec. 13, 2018

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

Dec. 20, 2018

Amendment offered by Sen. Jim Stamas (R-36)

To tie-bar the bill to House Bill 5939 and 5940, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. Those bills would amend other fireworks regulation laws.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 38 to 0 (details)

To establish that only the governor, the state fire marshal or the head of the Department of Natural Resources has the authority to authorize a statewide ban on open fires or fireworks use due to extremely dry conditions. The bill would also give local fire chiefs authority to impose burn bans in their jurisdiction if the DNR has elevated the fire risk criteria to "very high" for 72 hours.

Received in the House

Dec. 21, 2018

Passed in the House 101 to 6 (details)

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

Dec. 28, 2018